Elder Joshua Joel Burnham

Last letter from Josh

2010-04-12T10:25:00.001-07:00

Hey guys!

So we just got tranfer information. I guess i am getting tranferred again! I cant believe its actually here. It is the wierdest feeling knowing that this week i am going to see all of you. I dont know what happened! I cant believe over two years ago i was saying goodbye at the airport. It is so crazy how fast time just flies bye. I have just had two of some of the most incredible years of my life, and now its on to the next phase.

I called around yesterday to alot of people in Fort Walton and alot of people said that they would be home. I figure we can drive up to Dothan first thing in the Morning and see Ed and everything up there. Then we can drive down maybe through Crestwiew to Fort Walton and spend some time down there. We will probably have a good amount of time there since most of the people wont be home until around after 4, so maybe we can go down to Fort Walton beach and Destin beach and we can go walk along the beaches or something. It is so awsome there.

Our interview with President Suummerhays is at 9pm. I dont really know what time he wants you to be there though. I know that is when visiting hours start for all of the missionaries there. I would call the mission home just to make sure. Make sure to get some sleep when you get in on wednesday as well; We are going to be really tired all day thursday if you dont.

I have been feeling much better this week. We have been able to get alot of good work in for my last week. We did alot of service on Thursday and Friday. There is an old Scottish member in his 80's who we visit every once in a while, and he had a bunch of logs that he needed chopped. He had a log splitter and some axes, so we all worked on that most of Friday afternoon. Then on Saturday we went back and hauled it all into his woodshed. We also had some really good lessons this week. We taught one of our investigators in a members home and she had a really good experience. She felt the Spirit really strongly when we taught about eternal families because she is getting marries next month. We did alot of tracting this week as well. Yesterday was pretty much my last prosyliting day because today is p-day and ill be in Tallahasse for most of the day, then tomorrow we have district meeting, then an appointment, then for most of the remaining time i will be packing. We are going to knock a few doors just so at leat i can say i tracted my last day, but thats pretty much it.

I Know that this is exactly where i have needed to be. This mission has changed my life. Ive learned how to set a pattern that allows me to rely on the Holy Ghost, and i know that its going to bless the rest of my life. President has taled to me alot about school, work and family. He gave me a blessing this last Zone Conference and blessed me that i would be succesful in my schooloing, in my career and in my future family. He once again told me that i would find a girl fairly soon who would make me a better person haha. Anyways, im just so grateful for this experience, because i know how much its going to bless my children. I know that this is Jesus Christ's church. I know that He called Joseph to be an instrument in Restoring His church to the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is evidence of this and is another Testemant and a witness that Jesus is the Christ. I LOVE THIS WORK!

I love you guys so much. Mom and Dad, Ill see you on Wednesday! The rest of you, i will see you on Friday! I LOVE YOU! Drive safe and fly safe!

Love, Elder Burnham

March 22, 2010

2010-03-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!

Happy Birthday Dad!! I am sorry didnt get anything off sonner. Youll be getting something in the mail here soon. I was meaning to get something sent off last monday but we had a crazy day, and the only time i can really send anything out is on mondays, so i am really sorry. Happy Birthday though!!! It sounds like you guys had a really fun weekend with everyone. That is cool that Ray and Brett went up there. Did you guys spend any time out on the lake at all? I am excited to relax a bit out on the lake. Its going to feel wierd though. Ive spent two years not having time for anything but work, so it will be a different experience just sitting and soaking up the rays.

How is the weather out there right now? Its officially Spring time over here. The weather has been perfect. Hopefully it will stay that way until yall come out. I dont really know in what order to visit those few areas yet. I still need to call a bunch of people in Fort Walton and see what would be best for them. I am thinking that we could drive up to Troy first, then down through Crestview and over to Fort Walton last since that's when most of the people will be home. Ed Stevens will be home all day and that is really one of the only people i would like to visit up there. Maybe one other investigator family. I dont know. I will figure that all out this week and let you know next week what would be best.

I am up for doing anything yall want to do on that Saturday. I really dont mind. It will be fun whatever we choose to do. I just want to be with our family, that's all i really care about. That'll be fun if Ray and Brett come by Saturday as well. They're family anyways. Maybe you guys can pick out your favorite episode of the office and we can watch that or something, i dont know. Just make it a clean one haha.

We don't really have any big plans for before i leave besides just working hard. Im trying to not talk about going home too much and im just doing my best to finish strong. We have been knocking on a ton of doors lately because we dont have to many appointments that go through. We are still teaching Will and Whitney, but we are pushing their dates back because they didn't make it to church this week. They are still doing good though. Our other investigator Julianne is doing good. She just had a baby so she hasnt been able to come to church, but she is reading and marking the Book of Mormon every day. We a few really solid investigators this week through tracting, so we are hoping to have more appointments this upcoming week.

Elder Jenkins is such an awesome companion. Me and him have the best time together every day. Missionary work is so much fun when you are with someone that you love to be around. He will be home anout three months after me so we will keep in touch.

I am so excited to see you guys! I am so excited for you to interview with President Summerhays, and to meet Ed, and to just drive around through the last two years of my life. I love you guys! I will get some pictures printed off today and send them out. You only get three more emails!

I love you!

Elder Burnham

March15, 2010 Whitney and Will

2010-03-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
This has been a really good week. We have been praying for miracles for our investigators Will and Whitney. They have baptismal dates for March 27, but they had to make it to church twice befor they could get baptized. They are so solid, and would be coming to church every week if they could, but they both work for the County and have work every single Sunday. Whitney said that she would be able to pull some strings, but Will said that it would be highly unlikely. That was last week. So we all said that we would pray that a miracle would happen, and it did. Somehow, Will was able to talk his boss into letting him shift his hours around each Sunday so that he could come to church. So Will and Whitney both came yesterday and had a great time. We have another investigator named Julianne who is really close to baptism as well. We are hoping to set a date soon. She is marries to a member. They are a young couple and are both really excited about the church right now.

We knocked alot of doors this week. We found some dirt roads that have tons of houses so we have been working those areas for a while now, and have had some success.

Zone conference was this last Thurday. It was a good one. We talked alot about how we cannot determine what are success is going to be at any given time, because success is a gift; but we can determine what our actions are going to be, and have hope that we will recieve far beyond our expectations if we just move forward in faith and trust in God. At one point,we got on the topic of our future and what is in store. President listed a few categories on the chalk board, one of them being love and marriage. Of course President Summerhays decides to single me out since i was the closest to going home, and he asked me how am i going to go about love and marriage when i get home. I thought for a moment, and told him, "President, i dont have a single idea." So President gave me some pointers about going to institute and dating. Your going to love this one mom. He told me that his best guess is that i will be getting married alot sooner than later. So wierd to even be thinking about that!

So we are just going to be flying out of Tallahassee? That sounds good. I think the places i would like to go through are Crawfordville, Fort Walton, and Troy. Those are really the only ones that i would like you to see. I think Pensacola would be a little too far. Maybe Crestview. I think that might be on the way from Fort Walton to Troy, so maybe that will work. Its going to be alot of driving, but it will be fun.

Thats cool that President Burnette is just going to meet us right when we get back. What are we going to do on Friday? Just relax at the house with everyone? I would really like to go to In and Out, so maybe we can make a family trip over there? I like the idea of doing an FHE. That will be fun. I am so excited to see everyone!

That would be cool to get started with work. Pest Control would be a pretty good job i think. Thanks for sending that in for me. You sent me that registration information; do i need to fill those out by a certain date? Please let me know so that i can plan a time to do that.

Thats awsome that you were able to talk to Sister Summerhays. She is amazing. I think i am most excited for you guys to meet with her and President more than anyone else.

Well, I love you mom and dad. Im glad everything is going good back home. I am excited for next month!

Love, Elder Burnham

March 8, 2010 Crawfordville, Elder Jenkins killing me off

2010-03-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!
This week has been great. I love Crawfordville. It really is just out in the middle of nowhere. We we have had a really good few days since i have been here. Our teaching pool is a pretty good size. We are teaching a couple named Will and Whitney who both have very solid testimonies of the restored Gospel and are progressing toward baptism on March 27.

Its pretty different here though. Normally i have been in areas where you can find streets with houses that are really close together and those are the ones that are the best for tracting. But here, all of the houses are so spaced out, so it maked tracting a little bit more interesting. It has been alot of fun tracting down some of the dirt roads out here. The whole area is just a few main streets, and then dirt roads off all of them, so its really fun.

Elder Jenkins is an awsome companion. Im actually really happy that he is killing me off. We have alot of fun together but work hard at the same time. He reminds me of a mix between Brett and Jake Brown. He is really funny. He has been out about 20 months now so he doesnt have very much time left either.

We had a pretty funny experience a couple days ago. While we were knocking on some doors, this 9 or 10 year old kid kept following us around with his little tiny dirt bike and was yelling all sorts of stuff at us. He told us that we were going to hell and that nobody wanted to listen to us. It was wierd because he was so young, but was trying so hard to insult us. Many times he would ride as close to us as he could and then skid out and try to kick dirt up on to us, but he failed every time. The best part is that at every door, he would tell us that nobody was home, and every time someone would answer the door. Then on one door, he told us that nobody would ever want to hear our message, and at that door, a man answered and let us in. As we were going in, i looked back at the kid and gave him a big smile and a thumbs up.

That man that let us in was named Bill. He was a really interesting guy. We taught him for about 20 minutes, and he seemed really interested, so we will see what happens in the future.

To tell you the truth, i am really happy to be out of theodore. I mean, the members were great, and Elder Tolley was great, but there was just abslolutely nothing going on there. This area on the other hand has so much going on, on the memers are amazing. They feed us alomost every night and are all willing to get out and work. The members are all really involved and they all no our investigators. I am excited to finish my mission here where i know i will be able to finish strong.

So that is really cool that Brett and Ray will be in California for the summer. I am so excited to hang with them. I am so excited to get to spend some time with the family as well. As far as the lake goes, i am fine with whoever wants to go. If Ray and Brett want to go i am fine with that, but if you would rather just have our family i am fine with that too. Either way will be alot of fun.

My new adress 46 Mary Lou trail Crawfordville, FL 32327.

I will take alot more pictures this tranfer. It is a way cooler looking area than Theodore was so i will make sure to take some. I love you guys! I will see you soon:)

Love, Elder Burnham

March 2, 2009 My mission has been the greatest experience of my life

2010-03-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

Thank you for forwarding that email to me that Elder Bond Wrote. He is such an awsome Elder. Those were some of the best weeks of my mission serving with him in Troy. Thats really cool of him to write you guys.

So i was pretty suprised about transfer information. I am getting tranferred for my last six weeks. I am actually really excited. I am going to Crawfordville which is pretty close to Tallahassee and is as back woods as you can get. This will be the first area of my mission where i can legitimetely say that i am out in the stix. I am going to be serving with Elder Jenkins which is also really cool. I served around him in the beginning of my mission and he is a great guy. We are really good friends. At first i was a little bit confused at why i was getting tranfered, but President Summerhays called me and told me the reason why. I guess recently he sat in on a lesson recently with the Elders in Crawfordville with a nice couple who are having some difficulties overcoming some problems and preparing for baptism. President told me that he recieved a very specific witness from the Lord telling him that he needed to send me to that area and that there were people in Crawfordville that i needed to help. I cant really be upset with that answer, so i guess i am going to Crawfordville haha.

So this got me thinking, maybe we dont even need to come out to Mobile. There is only one family out here that would be worth seeing (the Schloemers) but is that worth coming all the way out to the end of the mission for? If Troy is the furthest up we go, then we could just fly right back out of Tallahassee, I think. Would it be cheaper and easier that way? There really isnt too much to see here in Mobile except for tthe Schloemers. I would be fine with that. What are your thoughts?

Anyways, this week was good. We had a good lesson with Desiree. We explained to her that we had taught her everything that she needed to know to find her own testimony. She hasnt really been praying and doesnt seem to have too strong of a desire, so we just bore our testimonies and kind of left it in her hands, so hopefully she will come through.

We also went on Trade-offs this week with a few different missionaries in the Zone. I was able to go on one with an awsome Elder who i will probably be really good friends with after the mission. He is serving in Atmore which is also in the middle of nowhere. It was a good trade-off. We taught a couple lessons and knocked on some doors out on some dirt trails. It was fun.

The last couple of days have been hectic. We are moving apartments because there has been so many problems with these ones. So we have just been moving furniture and cleaning and packing for the last couple days. I am going to be sending some stuff home so that i dont have tons to fly home with in 6 weeks.

I am so wierded out that i am in the last tranfer of my mission. It doesnt seem like it has been two years, but at the same time, it seems like forever ago that i was being trained by Elder Honzic and scared out of my mind. My mission has been the greatest experience of my life. I am so excited to talk to you guys about everything and to show you at least a few places and people that have made an impact on me. I think i am mostly excited for you to meet President Summerhays. He has been my best friend out here and is one of the greatest leaders i have ever known. I cant belive its happening soon! Am i supposed to be sad or happy?! I dont know!! ahhhh!!

So anyways, i love you guys. I am glad you had a good week. Ill talk to you next week and tell you all about my new area.

Love, Elder Burnham

Feb 22, 2010 More focus onto less-active work

2010-02-22T21:38:00.000-08:00

It sounds like you guys are having so much fun making all of these plans for the place out in Dammeron. I am so excited for you. That is going to be so much fun out there. Have they started building yet, or is that not going to start for another couple months?

Our week has been good. We have been finding alot more people lately while knocking on doors. Most of the appointments are falling through, but there is still more signs of life then there was a few weeks ago, so we are happy about that. We found one guy last week who told is that our Spirits didn't have a gender. He had all sorts of crazy ideas. We had a lesson with Desiree last week that went really well. Normally she doesn't say much, but this time, she was speaking her mind the whole time and said that she actually felt the Spirit while she was reading the Book of Mormon. We were really excited about that because up up until then, she wasnt really progressing at all.

I had an interview with President a couple of weeks ago and we were talking about what we need to do to get the work picked back up in the Theodore ward. We have been working hard and doing alot of tracting, but we just arent seeing very much success. President recommended that we start putting alot more focus into less-active work, so that is what we have been doing lately. We are trying to get into homes of the members and teach them the Restoration. We have had alot more success lately since we have started doing this so we will see how it goes. We got President Summerhays to come down and speak to the ward in a few weeks. The Bishop in our ward got really excited when we told him that so he invited the Stake President to come down to speak that sunday as well, so it will be a really good sunday for our ward and hopefully they will start to pick things up again.

Transers are coming up next monday. I will officially have one transfer left after that. I cant beleive it is almost March already! This will be my last full month. I really am a little worried. Its going to be nice to have everyone home for the summer. I just hopeI'm not ridiculously awkward.

I really need to start calling people from my old areas to see if they are going to be around when we are traveling through. Your right though, even if there arent very many people home, it will still be fun just touring back through and visiting the areas. Do you want me to give you a list of the areas i have served in so that you can map figure out the fastest route to go through, or do you want me to figure all that out?

Well, i am getting excited to see you guys. I am loving every moment of what i am doing out here though and i am so grateful for everything that i have experienced over the past two years. It will be a fun drive when we tour back through. I will get to tell you all of the details of each area. I am so excited for you to meet Ed. Hes the man. I still call him every other week. He is doing so good right now.

Anyways, i love you guys. See yall soon:)

Love, Elder Burnham

Letter from Elder Bond Feb 20, 2010

2010-02-20T08:01:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Burnham,

My name is Kyle Bond, those here in the mission field know me better as Elder Bond. I had the privilege of serving with one of the greatest missionaries I've ever known, Elder Burnham. Elder Burnham is very highly spoken of by our mission president and missionaries in the Florida Tallahassee Mission, but he is more than a good missionary (as you already know) to me. Elder Burnham is my best friend and brother. It would be safe to say that he helped me love others by his example, and that he helped change my life.

The Lord blessed me with the opportunity to serve 2 transfers with Elder Burnham. During those 2 transfers I saw miracles and felt humbled to serve with, in my opinion, the greatest leader and person this mission has ever seen. During our short time serving together we met a man by the name of Ed Stevens who changed both of our lives and all 3 of us became very close. I have many journal entries about Elder Burmham of which I still draw strength from. I want you to know that my love for Elder Josh Burnham is great. He helped me to better see the good in everything. He helped me to not stress the unimportant things. He listened to me as I inquired of him for advice. He made me know I could trust him by his example. Then he patiently listened as I shared with him things that I haven't with anyone else, things that I'd thought about my whole life. Sounds like a pretty cool guy huh? I know he is, He is the hardest working missionary I know and one of the most fun people to be around. He spoke very highly of the both of you, and I have no doubt in my mind that you are great people. I hope one day well get to meet. I am so thankful that Elder Burnham chose to serve.

Love, someone who highly respects and looks up to your son,
Elder Kyle Steven Bond

Feb 15, 2010 Learning alot from Elder Tolley

2010-02-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

Thats funny that sister Schloemer sent those pictures off so quickly to you guys. The Schloemers really are so good to us. They are the most solid family in the ward. They are constantly inviting their friends and neighbors to hear the lessons. We really love them.

Donnie looks so skinny. Wow, i cant believe he is already home. I cant believe this is all happening so fast. I talked to President Summerhays about schooling, and he said he felt good about me being in California for the first little bit of school. He actually suggested that i stay in California until i get my associates degree, but i dont know about that. There are a couple missionaies from this mission that are going to LDS business college. Sister Summerhays actually really wants me to go there. I love my interviews with her. She is so funny. She has all of these ideas of what she wants me to do when i get home and she gets really excited about it. She is our mission mom. That is really cool that Brett and Ray are doing so well. Brett is running for president? Thats pretty random, but so Brett at the same time.

I dont think you guys will be at the dinner, but you better call and make sure. I am pretty sure that the interview with President Summerhays will be from 9-930pm, and then after that, i am off with you guys:) I am still a little bit worries that noone will be home when we go through to see everybody, but even if most of them arent, it will still be really fun to have stop in some of the areas and show you around. If we have a little extra time maybe we can even go see some of Destin beach which is right next to Fort Walton.

That is pretty awsome that The Daltons got called to Honnolulu. They are going to have so much fun. I was kind of hoping that they would get called here, but i am sure they are just fine with their call.

This week has been good. Elder Tolley was sick for a couple days, but he worked hard through it and is feeling alot better now. Did you here about the freak weather that we had out here? It snowed on Friday Morning for about 4 or 5 hours! I guess there were some parts of our mission that got 3-5 inches of snow on the ground. Pretty crazy huh? It was really fun to knock on doors during that time because most people invited us in to get us out of the cold. We ended up finding 3 new investigators that day which was a miracle, especially for this area. Elder Tolley and i are working hard tgether. I am so happy to be ending my mission with a good companion, in a good area. I have learned so much here and i am learning so much from Elder Tolley. We were able to get into alot of doors this week and teach the restoration, but not to many people wanted us back. We still only really have one progressing investigator and that is Desiree, who we teach every week at the Schloemers house. She needs prayers. She is really trying to find answers.

So, just for future reference, you guys should check out a type of dog called Habaneese. The Schloemers have one and they are the coolest dogs ever. They look like a miniature Murphy, only with the personality of Max (our old cat.) They are bread to not bark and to be really calm. I know Sadie has a long time to live, but just keep that in mind.

Anyways, sorry for that random tangent. I am so happy right now. I am so grateful for your prayers. I know that they are helping me so much. Thank you. I love it so much out here. It feels so good to open your mouth and bear witness of the Savior and His restored Gospel. I dont know what i am going to do when i get home and that isnt my sole purpose all day every day anymore. I love you guys so much. Tell the family That i will be writing them Tomorrow. Elder Tolley and i set goals to write letters, so i am going to do it. Tomorrow is actually our p-day, but President told us to email today because it is Fat Tuesday tomorrow and everything will be closed.

K, well thank you again for everything!I love you!

Elder Burnham

Feb 8, 2010 Setting personal goals, 3 journals

2010-02-08T21:35:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad!

Wow, i am so excited for you guys! That is so great that everything is working out so nicely. I cant wait to see what Dammeron valley is all about. I cant believe 5 acres of land is that cheap! Thanks for filling me on on all the details. I was really curious ablout how all this was happening, and now i have a better image in my mind. That will be so fun for the dogs and for chile to have so much space.

Thats really cool that you guys have been getting up early to excercise. I love excercising every morning. I never thought in a million years back home that i would eventually enjoy waking up at 6:30am and excercising. I going to try to put on some wait over the next 2 months before i get home. Mom, thats awsome that your business is going so well. Im happy that your keeping busy. Dad, is the new practice still doing good? I guess its not that new any more huh. Time has flown by way to fast hasnt it?

Last week was a really good week. We were able to finally find a few new people to teach, and they all seem like they will be pretty solid. We have just had to knock alot of doors lately because we dont have very many appointments set up. We had Zone Leader Council on Thursday. It was a really good meeting. I always learn so much from President Summerhays. Something that i have been focusing alot on lately is the importance of setting personal goals. I have 3 different journals i write in every night now. I have my normal missionary journal, a spiritual/quotes journal, and now i just started a daily and weekly goals journal. If i have a slower day where i just didnt feel like i did the best i could, i review my day that night in prayer with the Lord, and ask what i can change and do better on the next day. This pattern has really helped me over the past week. Every time i set goals with a determinattion to act on them the next day, i feel so powerfully the cleansing and enabling power of the Atonement helping me to change what i cant cange on my own.

We have Zone conference tomorrow. President Summerhays has changed things around a little bit so now the zone leaders will be doing most of the trainings in zone conferences again. I am not a huge fan of that, but it will give me some good practice i guess.

So as far as you guys coming out here to pick me up goes, the only person i can guarantee that will be home is Ed. I still havent called anyone else from my other areas, but im guessing most of them will be at work during the day. Are you ok with that? If most of the people are at work, are you ok with just visiting through and seeing the areas i served in? I talked to Ed and his wife Mary, and they are open all day, so i am happy about that. I will call everyone this week and see how many of them will be home. How much more expensive will it be to fly out of Mobile?

Donnie is already home? That is so crazy! How is he? Has he given his homecoming talk yet? Wow, that flew by.

So Mom i am getting your car? How do you like the new one? Thank you guys so much for that. You really dont have to give me moms if you dont want. I can work for a new one or something. I know how much mom loves that car. Thank You!

Anyways, i love you guys. I am so happy for you that all these things are working out. I want you to know how much i love this work. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that Joseph Smith saw what he says he saw. I know these things for myself. The Holy Ghost has confirmed it to me. I am so grateful for His Mercy, love, patience for me and our family. I am especially grateful for our family. I love all of you guys so much. Thank You for every thing! I will see you before you know it. I love you!

- Show quoted text -

Feb. 1, 2010

2010-02-01T21:29:00.000-08:00

Hey mom and Dad!

Mom i am so sorry to hear about Tony. I'm happy though that her family is taking everything so well. I love you mom, and i hope your doing alright. I know its been a tough past few months for you.

That is really cool that you guys were able to find a place in Dammeron Valley. From how you described it, it sounds like a beautiful place. That will be so much fun for the kids to have that much space to play around in. Im excited. Will it end up being cheaper than what our house will sell for? How close is Dammeron Valley to the lake? How close is it to the St. George temple? That would be awesome to live that close to such a historical temple.

This week was also very interesting for us. I woke up early Monday morning to a strange water splashing sound. Sound familiar? I got out of bed to see what it was, opened up our utility closet, and saw that water was pouring in from the ceiling. I woke everyone else up and called the emergency maintence guys again. The guy i talked to said that he would be right over. Well, for 30 minutes we just sat and watched the water slowly seap into the carpet. There was nothing we could really do other than try to stop the water from getting into the carpet, but that wasn't working. So by the time the maintenence guy showed up, our apartment was flooded again. It wasn't as bad as last time, but we still had to move all of our stuff into the front room again, and they had to tear out all of our carpet...again. we had the apartment back in order for about a week before the same thing happened all over again. So far this area has been the strangest area of my mission. It seems like so many strange things like this just keep happening. I think the adversary really doesnt want us to focus on the work or something. Its nice though that i have a companion now that is easy to work with. So we are just working to try and get everything back in order.

Other than that, we had a pretty good week. Like i said, its kind of a strange area. We have been working really hard, but we haven't seen very much success yet. We are teaching one lady named Desiree who is keeping all of her commitments, and even came to church yesterday, so we are excited about her.

Although things have been a little difficult in this area, I am still happy. I am doing everything i can, and i feel like i am still learning and growing every day. I think that good things will happen here, i just need to remain patience, and optimistic.

As far as flying into Tallahassee goes and where we should fly out, I dont really know what we should do. Mobile is about a 6 hour drive from Tallahassee. It would be alot of driving if we drove all the way back. Also, did you guys want to meet alot of the members and converts while driving through, or did you just want to mainly see the areas? Because if we drive through on that Thursday, i am guessing that alot of the Members that i would want you guys to meet will be at work. The only one that for sure will be home will be Ed Stevens. He only works mondays and tuesdays. But i am not sure about everyone else. I can call around and see this week and let you know next week if you would like.

I love you guys so much. I am getting excited to see everyone. Stay safe! I love you!!!!

Love, Elder Burnham

Jan 22, 2010 Elder Tolley an amazing missionary, a second flood

2010-01-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad!

This last week was so great. Elder Tolley is an amazing missionary. I think these next two tranfers will be alot like the ones i had with Elder Gooch. We already get along so good, and we were really hard together. For the past month or two there has been no signs of life here in Theodore, but just within the past week, things have really started to pick up.

We are now teaching a lady named Desiree who some members (the Schloemers) introduces us to. We have our lessons with her at the Schloemers house every week now. She is progressing pretty well. She is a in her 30's and is a single mom looking for a church to settle down in. We are excited about her. Aside from that, we are making alot of plans to work with the youth in our ward to help them invite their friends. We had a really good experience yesterday in Church. We were pulled into the young mens/young womens class to teach sunday school. We were caught by suprise so we had no idea what we were going to teach. At first everyone in the class was pretty roudy, but within a few minutes, everyone was participating. We just started to ask some simple questions like, "what kinds of questions are you asked about the church by your friends?" And, "What are the answers you give to them." We helped them to answer common gospel questions and helped them to see the importance of bearing testimony in those situations. There was one young women in the class who was about 15 years old and at first was very closed off. She had a tongue ring and dressed pretty crazy. She made alot of comments saying that she was only there because her grandmother forces her to go every sunday. I testified to her of the power that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought into my life. We testifies to her of the importance of learning truth and living it right now and not waiting until later on. I really felt a connection of what she is going through right now, and the Spirit was so strong as we bore our testimonies to her. The Spirit touched this young womens heart yesterday and it was amazing to see her countenence change by the end of class. It was just a neat experience for me.

I think that one day out here will be fine. There really isnt too much to see anyways. It will be a very full day, but that's ok. I cant swim or anything anyways so its not like we can spend time at any of the beach resorts or anything. I think the only place that i would want to visit would be Fort Walton, Troy, and probably here in Theodore. I think it will work out. Would we just fly out of Mobile?

I would love to spend some time out at the lake when i get back. I think that would be really nice to just have some quiet time out there before i get started with school and work and everything else. I am actually really looking forward to some time out there.

That is so awsome that President Dalton is going to be a Mission President. It would be amzing if he was sent to this mission. He would love it so much. The culture of this mission and the direction that it is heading is great. You will have to give me the Dalton's adress so i can write them. I love President Summerhays, because of his ability to get out of the way, and let the Spirit run things the way they are supposed to be run. His interviews dont consist of him counciling us, they consist of him asking us, "how are you?" "How are you feeling?" "What is on your mind?" He trusts that the Spirit will work through us to give him what he needs to work with. I really cant put into words all the different reasons i love President Summerhays. He is completely submissive to the Spirit, and does not do anything of his own will, but always seeks to do His will. I wish i could put it into better words. I guess you will just have to meet him for yourself:)

I think that will work out ok with fullerton starting a little later after i get home, because then i can work and get some money saved up. Thank you so much for looking into all that stuff for me. That would be pretty nice if some extra money came in to pay for a couple semsters from that accident. I cant believe that that is still going on.

I am so excited for the next 10 weeks! I have an awsome companion who loves to work, and i am in a great ward. I am so happy. I know with all my heart that this is HIS work. I love every single second of my mission. I cant wait for you to meet some of the people that have impacted my life so much. Thank you guys for the email. They always make my weeks so much better. I love you so much!

Love, Elder Burnham

Jan 15, 2010 Big changes coming

2010-01-15T21:19:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad!

We just got tranfer information. I am staying here and Elder Fox is getting tranferred. My new companion is going to be Elder Tolley. I have served around him a couple times; once in Crestview and once in Fort Walton. He seems like an awesome missionary. Everyone i have talked to so far says that i am going to love him. I have actually known about this for the past few days now. I have been talking with President alot over the past week because he has been helping us with the whole carpet situation, and he let me know a few days ago that there would be some big changes here and that Elder Fox would be leaving. It has been really hard not to say anything to anyone the last couple days. So, i am very excited about the next couple transfers. Elder Tolley will most likely be my last companion. So weird!

Last week was one of the more challenging weeks for me. I was struggling to be patient all week. I wont go into details because it is pretty much the same type of stuff i talked to you guys on the phone about. I did however learn alot this week and was able to find alot of answers to my prayers. I have been trying to think of ways in my personal studies lately to set and record goals for attributes that i am trying to work on. I have never been a big goal setter, but after a really difficult day this week, i prayed, and recieved an answer that i need to start setting personal goals for myself and recording them. So i have been trying to think of a good system for that.

The hard week ended great though. We finally got new carpet and a new washer. Our apartment is finally back in order and spot clean. It was such a miracle that it everything got put back in order right before the new tranfer. So that made the whole difficult week worth it.

I really havent heard too much about flexibility with release dates. I know of missionaries that have gone home early for school, but i dont know of any other cases. I know it would probably be a little more difficult in my case because i am in a leadership possition and President would have to replace me with someone else just for the last few days. Also, you guys wouldnt be able to have that interview with President if i was released a few days earlier because he sets specific time aside to do that on transfer days. So thats why you guys would have to call and find out that information because i really do'nt know. It is getting exciting to talk about though:)

As far as school goes, i would prefer to go to Fullerton. I don't know what is available over there, but i did enjoy that institute alot. I mean, if you would like to register for me that would be great, i just feel bed making you do that, and maybe it would be good for me to do it. Whatever way will work.

I am so sorry about Tony. I know how much you love her. Everything will be ok. It will all work out exacly the way that it is supposed to. I love you Mom! Im sorry.

Well, i have to go write President now. I am sorry that i haven't taken any pictures since i have been here. I promise to do better this transfer. Dad, i love you! Mom, I love you! See you soon!

Love, Elder Burnham

Jan 10, 2010 Zone leader council was amazing

2010-01-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

I had a really good week. We didnt think it would be a very productive week because we had zone leader council all day on Tuesday, then a tradeoff with some missionaries in Daphne on Wednesday, then zone conference all day on Friday. But, the Lord helped us and we were still able to have a successful week even though we weren't even in our area for three of the days. We are still having trouble finding anyone to teach, so we are just knocking on alot of doors every day, and doing alot of re-activation work.

Zone leader council was amazing. It almost like another zone conference, only all the other missionaries are all really strong leaders and are all hard working missionaries; so i feel like the Spirit is able to teach more through President Summerhays in those meetings than at a normal zone conference. It was really cool. It was all about what we need to do to stay in the right Spirit, and the patterns that we need to establish in our lives to keep that His Spirit with us throughout the rest of our lives.

Our apartment is still a wreck from the flood last week, but the maintenance guys said that they would be here today with the new carpet. It is been pretty rough having to deal with all this for the past week, but i have learned alot from it.

Things are going alot better with my companion. He is working alot harder and he seems to be alot happier. My prayers are definately being answered.

Tranfers are coming up in one week. This one has flown by so fast. I only have two more tranfers left, can you believe that? I still cant believe how fast it is going. If you guys are coming out, I still need to call some people from my other areas and see if they will be there around that time. So i guess just keep me posted with what you want to do. I'm really ok either way, and i just think it would be better for you guys to call the front office to ask.

As far as school goes, i think i am going to call President Summerhays this week and ask if i can start going online to check everything out. You said i can start applying in march right? I talked to Sister Summerhays about LDS business college, and she said she thought that was a great idea. I guess there has been a few missionaries from this mission that are going there now, and she said that they are really enjoying it. I dont really know if i want to go there, but i guess that was a plus coming from her.

I'm sorry i dont have too much more to talk about. I love you guys. Thank you so much for everything. I am so excited to see you in 3 months:)

Love, Elder Burnham

Dec. 14

2010-01-10T21:05:00.000-08:00

Ok so i just finished writing a huge email to you guys, and when i sent it, for some reason i got botted off the server and i dont really have anymore time left here at the library. SO what i am going to do, is write you a letter and mail it off tomorrow. I am so sorry. I am really bugged at this computer right now. Anyways, i am doing really good here in Theodore. Elder Fox is great, and leadership is treating me well. I will explain all the datails in my letter. I am so sorry . I love you guys so much!!! Thank you for your email:) I cant wait to talk to you in 11 days:)

Love Elder Josh Burnham

K, well dont worry, i am still planning on writing you a letter today, but i have just a few more minutes here at the library. Theodore is going good so far. Leadership isnt all too bad. I dont have to give speaches or anything, i just have to help with the obedience of the Zone and go on trade offs, and make alot more phone calls and whatnot. I will give you more details in the letter. Just know that i love you and that i am happy. I had a pretty tough week adjusting to the new companion, but its all good now and i am happy here in Theodore:) I love you guys!

Love, Elder josh Burnham

Nov. 30

2010-01-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

Wow, it seems like there is alot going on back home right now, or at least there is a lot that is on your minds. That is so cool that you went out to the Ranch and fixed up the road ranger. It has been way to long since we have been up there. That is a really good idea that you guys had about keeping your RV there. How far away is Shawnas place from the ranch again?

It sounds like you had a good Thanksgiving. Thursdays are usually our weekly planning days, so our Thanksgiving started off with Planning until around 11:30. Then after that we went and had our first meal with An investigator named Dora and her family. There are about 10 of them that we are currently teaching and they are a very classic southern family, so yes the food was the greasiest of greasy. We had turkey, collard greens, brocolli caserole, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, and all kinds of desert. I was extremely full. They are really great people and they made us feel right at home. So right after we left there, we had promised a less-active little old southern white lady named Big that we would go over and eat with her family. I was already about to throw up, but i had to lossen the belt, and go for another Thanksgiving meal. Big had cooked almost all of the same stuff as Dora, only everything seemed to be alot greesier. I had to be polite and fill my plate full of food, and of course Big forced us to eat tons of desert. All three of us left Bigs house about ready to die. We road bikes for the rest of the day though so that helped to keep us from falling asleep. The rest of our Thanksgiving day was good. We just knocked on doors for the rest of the day, but didnt really have too much success beacause it seemed like everyone was out of town for the holidays.

The rest of the week went really well. We got a referral from a member in the Branch to go see this guy named Chris who is a student here at Troy University. It turns out this guy is very smart is really open to religion. The first lesson with him went so good, and he agreed with everything we talked about. We invited him to church, and he ended up driving out to Dothan which is an hour away and buying all new church cloths because he didnt have any. We are really excited about him. We have some other really solid people we are teaching right now as well.

I got your letters in the mail today. Thank you so much. I really appreciated that. I signed that paper and it is going in the mail today. I didnt really understand what it was though. Was it just qualifying me for Student aids or loans or something?

I cant really think of anything that i really want for Christmas. There are some little things that i have been wanting that i havent had the money for, but i can live them. I was looking for something to whiten my teeth before i go back home, dad, and i was wondering if you knew what worked best. I know that you can by different kinds of whitening strips from walmart, and my companions have said that they work pretty good. Do you know if those work? Anyways, i guess that is one idea for you of what i could use. As far as cloths go, i am tryind to wear everything out before the end of the mission. All my pants and Shirts are holding up pretty good, and i think i will be able to hold off until home. Shoes are the only things i am a little concerned about. The Bostonians that i got before i came out have almost had enough. They are starting to fall apart. I have been wearing another Elders shoes that went home a tranfer ago and those have been working out pretty good. So i think i will be fine for another 4 months, and i am not just saying that. I think i would rather by a new pair later than get a new pair now and wear them out before i get home. Dang, i am sorry that i am so lame. I really just need to think of stuff i need, i am sorry i am so difficult around Christmas time. Is there anything that you guys would like? Any souveniers or anything? I promise i will try and think of more things i need.

Well, im sorry that i have just written the most boring letter ever. I need to go email president now. I love you guys so much. Thank you for eerything!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Nov 23

2010-01-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

Thank you for those addresses. I am pretty sure that i sent letters to both Chad and Shawna about a month ago that went to the wrong adresses. Oops. So you guys had a dull week huh? Im sorry to hear that. Why did you end up taking the house off the market? I really hope you didnt do it for me! That will be nice though, to come back to a place that i am actually familiar with. That will be fun to have Katey and Keegan home for Thanksgiving. Is the ward doing any kind of turkey bowl or anything? That really stinks that Katey has Mono. I hated that so bad! Yeah hopefully nobody else catches it.

We have a couple Dinners lined up for Thanksgiving, so that we be nice. At 12pm, we are going over to an investigators house to eat with this huge family of like 10 people that we found last week. Its a pretty cool story. We knocked into this lady named Dora, and we taught her for about 5 minutes. She told us that she wanted us to come back in a few days, but we werent really sure how sincere she was beacause she seemed like she was pretty set in her ways. We went back a few days later for our appointment, and when we pulled up, we saw that there were a ton of people at her house, and a bunch of them were dressed pretty nicely. There door was opened so we could see inside that there was alot of people there. We figured that they had forgotten about our appointment and were having some kind of party or something, but as we walked up to the house, Dora came outside and said that She had been waiting for us. When we went inside, there were about 12 people sitting down on the couches and on the floor and they were all waiting for us to come teach them! I guess Dora has a bunch of extended family, and she called them all up and told them to come over to listen to us. So as we taught, every single person there was participating and asnwering questions. It was so awsome. The lesson was really good and the Spirit filled the room. After the lesson, they asked us if we went home on the holidays to be with our families; when we told them we didnt, they told us that we were going to go to their place for Thanksgiving. And they are white! whoo whoo! So that was a cool experience that we had this week.

For a while there, we were having a really hard time finding anyone to teach, but recently, all of the knocking on doors has paid off. We recently were able to find a guy who is about our age named jared. We ran into him a couple weeks ago and he told us to just give him a call because he would be really busy that week. We left him with a Chapter to read from the Book of Mormon, but we figured that would be the last we heard from him because that is what most people say when they just want to get rid of us. So we ended up calling him this last tuesday, and he had read the chapter we left him, and had prayed about it, and wants to continue taking the lessons. He is a really smart guy who is a business major here at Troy University. He came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it, so we are very excited about the things that have been going on lately. We really have been so blessed here in Troy.

Lately, i have been thinking alot about how scarey it is to be going home in less than 5 months. I feel like i still have so much more to learn, and not even close to enough time to learn it. I dont think i am going to be ready to go home in April! I have been studying alot lately out of the Christ like attributes chapter out of Preach my Gospel, and i have come to the conclusion that i dont have any of them! Who is going to want to marry me?! I have been in a week long study of Charity and have been trying to apply it everyday. I am going to do that with every attribute in Ch. 6 of Preach my Gospel and hopefully it will help. As you can tell, i am starting to get stressed out because it seems like time is all of a sudden going light speed and i dont have anough time to do anything. Do you guys have any advise for me?

I think i want to get started with School as soon as possible when i get back, but i also dont want to overload myself, because i want to have some time with the family over the summer as well. That is pretty crazy that Alison is getting married, and Kevin too! What the heck? What is the guys name that Megan Groch is dating again? You said he was an AP in this mission?

Sorry that this letter was so scattered. I have alot on my mind lately. It is going to be so refreshing to be able to talk to you guys next month about everything. I am having the time of my life right now. Sometimes it is hard for me to put in words the feelings i have about my mission, so it will be nice to talk to you on the phone about it all.

I cant really think of anything that i need for Christmas. I think i am just going to try to make everything last until the end. My pants, shirts, and shoes are all starting to fall apart, but i think they will make it. I am sorry again that my letters arent better, i can never express how i feel very well. JUst know that i love you guys so much. Thank you for everything!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Nov 16 letter

2010-01-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!

Mom, i hope you know that i have remembered your Birthday all week and i wasnt able to get a letter out until Today. I almost got you a card last monday, but then i felt bad and i ended up not buying it because it wouldnt have been too appropiate. You would have laughed though. So i ended up just printing some pictures off and wrote a small letter. I hope that is ok. There really wasnt too much to get for you in Troy. But anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Sorry i am a day late. Did you guys end up doing anything exciting?

I am glad to hear that everything worked out well with Boppas party. Sounds like Parker is trouble. I am so excited to get to know him better. I am also so excited that Mom was able to find that video of Switzerland. How long was that video? I am excited to see all of our relatives. Do you think you will ever go back?

Thank you so much for those pictures. Julie is so old! What the heck?! Ryan still looks pretty much the same, I love it!

That is cool that Ray and Brett are both doing up at school. Our new companion Elder Barney went to LDS Business college and says that he really liked it. I dont even want to think about it yet. The more i think about it, the more i just get scared. Life is so good right now because i only have to focus on one thing every single day. I feel like there is going to be so many things to worry about when i get home! It will be good though.

This week has been really good. We havent had very many really solid investigators lately, so we have been doing alot of knocking on doors and contacting people on the street. This week has been pretty succesful. A huge part of it has been prayer. A couple weeks ago, i realized my prayers were starting to get pretty repetitious. So the next morning i had some really powerful impressions about the importance of prayer. Ever since that experience, i have been keeping a Prayer and answer Journal that has helped me so much lately. I have never in my life felt the reality of personal revelation so strongly. A huge influence on me was the Talk that Elder Scott gave in the first session of this last conference. I went back and read it, and it really hit home for me the importance of recieveing personal revelation. In the past week, i have recieved personal instruction that has helped me so much in the work and with my companions. I found i really cool scripture yesterday that gave me alot of comfort about Boppa. When i was in sunday school, one of the Chinese recent converts asked a question that made me think about Nonna and Boppa. He said, "Will my family have the opportunity to recieve the fulness of the Gospel even if they encountered it but did not accept it in this life?" When he asked that, i started to flip through my scriptures and i came across a verse in Moroni 7 that stuck out to me. In V.47 it says," But Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and WHOSO is found possesed with it at the last day, IT SHALL BE WELL WITH HIM. Boppa was one of the most kind, loving, and fun people to be around. He was charitable. And it says whoso has Charity at the last day, it shall be well with them.

Tracting has been interesting lately. We have found alot of really solid people, but also alot of crazies. The drunk people are always the best. We had a guy the other day invite us into his home who was out of his mind. He kept going back and forth into the other room and we thought he was going to come out with a gun or something. We finally got him to sit down and we talked with him for a little bit. He said he knew he had a problem and that he wanted to quit drinking. We told him that the only way he could overcome his addiction is if he acted right now and threw all his alchohol out. He told us he would quit after he finished it all; so we told him we couldnt help him then. After talking about it for a little bit, Elder Barney cracked his neck, and the man jumped up off his chair and yelled, " i can break your neck for you!" He grabbed elder Barneys face and from what it looked like was about to break his neck! Elder Barney is a pretty big guy so he smacked the guys arms out of the way and We pulled the guy away. We felt that that was probably our key to leave. We have some wierd experinces like that everyday. Troy is a very interesting place.

Anyways, i am probably getting boring, and i need to go email President. Is there anything i can do for you guys? Do you want any souveniers or anything from Alabama? I am so excited to talk to you guys on Christmas. I love you so much!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Jan 3 2010

2010-01-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

It sounds like your week was pretty packed. Im glad you guys had a fun and safe time. Your probably pretty sick of driving now though huh?

This week was pretty hectic. My patience was definetely tried and tested, but it was good for me. The first few days of the week went pretty good. We found a couple people to teach and we were working hard. New Years eve was a bit frustrateing in the day time because noone was home, but we still had a productive day. At around 7pm we went to the Schlamers home and they fed all eight of us missionaries. We watched them light off some fire works as well, so that was fun. Heres the great part of the week. We went to sleep on New Years Eve, and one of the other missionaries had thrown a load of wash in right before he went to bed. Well, i woke up at around 12:30am to a strange bubbling noise. It sounded like it was coming from the window which is right nect to my bed. So i tried messing with it, but the bubbling noice was still there. I soon realized that the bubbling noice was coming from underneath my matress, which is on the ground. I reached down to the floor and my hand went under 2 inches of water. So i got out of bed, turned on the light, and saw that our entire apartment was filled with water. The hose on the back of our washing machine had come off and was running for over two hours, dumping water into our apartment. After i turned the water off, we took our matresses, which were filled with water and weighed about two hundred pounds, outside and just went to sleep on our couches in the front room. The next morning, we called maintenence and they came and tore out most of the carpet in the apartment. So everything is a mess right now in our place and we had to spend alot of our time just trying to figure out what to do until we get new carpet this week. Its been good though. I have had some time to talk to Elder Fox about pretty much everything that i talked to you guys about, and he has been really trying to do better. This week has been tough, but i feel like alot has been acomplished, so it has been good.

I was reading President Summerhays's email today, and i realized that i have been a huge dummy! I havent been saving any of his emails. I should just forward them to you guys every week so that i can have them for the future. I hope you dont mind if i start doing that.

I had a neat teaching experience last night. We were at a dinner appointment with an active family. They invited one of their friends who is a nonmember to come and join them for family home evening afterward. A discussion opened up about the word of wisdom, and the non member lady asked why we could drink soda, but not tea. Everyone was trying to give all of these scientific answers to her. They were all trying to give these logical explanations and health facts, but the lday wasnt buying it. She said, none of that feels right, and until i here something that makes sence, i cant believe what you believe. After not saying anything the whole time, something from preach my gospel came to mind, and i told her, "ma'am, i dont think that that is the real question you have. I think the real question is whether or not Joseph Smith is a true Prophet. Either he is, or he isnt. If he is not, then you can take the word of wisdom and everyone of his teachings and throw it out the window; But if he is, then that answers every single question that you have about all of this. All of your questions can be answered by praying to know if he is a true Prophet. There was a little pause, and she then said, "in my 14 years of asking that question to mormons, i have never had a responce like that. That is logical. That makes sence." The Spirit was really strong. It felt so good because we havent had very many teaching oportunities lately.

Anyways, i dont have much more to say about this week. The more i think about you guys coming up here to pick me up, the more and more i like the idea. I am happy that you kind of talked me into it.

I love you guys. Stay safe this week!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

2009-12-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

Dec. 28 Merry Christmas!

2009-12-28T21:23:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad-

It was so much fun getting to talk to you guys on Christmas. I was so happy all day. It was great getting to talk to the rest of the family as well. You will be happy to know that i did end up getting your package. It was in the front office and was probably there since wednesday. Thank you so much for everything. You got me way too much! I love you guys. It was nice getting a second Christmas to open presents. The sweater is perfect and all the snacks and gift cards you sent saved me this month because i have very little money left on my mission card. Thank you so much.

I ended up buying one pair of nicer slacks today for $50 and a good pair of shoes for a little over $60. I will now be able to last for the next four months, so thank you for that as well.

It is so wierd that my last I dont have any more phone calls! It feels life all of a sudden everything is going light speed now that the holiday season is pretty much over. Talking about school on the phone was just so wierd. Am i going to survive in the real world? Am i going to be a huge dork? Oh well if i am. I will just find a dorky girl in New York somewhere. I AM JUST KIDDING! But seriously, i am so excited to see you guys and spend some time at home. It is going to be hard to leave here though. I honestly dont care very much about the plane ride home. I would actually rather sit next to you guys. Seriously, i mean it.

Well, i dont have too much more to talk about, seeing that i already pretty much talked to you about everything just a few days ago. This week was a good week. We found a few new investigators, and one of them seems really solid. I gave a talk at church this last sunday as well. I hope you guys have a great week. I love you so much! Be safe and wear your seatbelts when your driving!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Dec. 21

2009-12-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!

You havent gotten my letter yet? I sent it off on Thursday so hopefully you will get it today. Sorry you had to call the mission to get my adress, i wrote it down on the letter i wrote and i was hoping it would get to you by Saturday.

Anyways, i wrote all the details of last week in the letter that you will most likely be getting today. The new area is great. It has alot of potential, i am just trying to endure until next tranfer................. I guess the leadership in the Mobile hasnt been very strong in the past few months and that has made an impact on the whole Zone. I am just trying my hardest to think of ways i can help some of these missionaries make changes. Its really hard for me after working so hard in Fort Walton and Troy, to see missionaries who just kind of do things their way. If i have learned anything from my mission, it is the fact that if you are shooting for anything less than exact obedience, you will not be guided by the Spirit; and if you are not guided by the Spirit, then you cannot have real success in the work. So anyways, thats why the adjustment was a little difficult here. But, things have gotten alot better. My companion is getting more and more motivated every day, and our Zone had one of the best weeks they have had in months this week. So things are picking up. I really enjoy getting to work with President Summerhays. He seems alot more open with the zone leaders. In my interview, he told me alot of things about the Zone, and gave me alot of encouragment to help make changes in some of the areas. I cant wait for you guys to meet President.

This week was so much better than last week. I talked to ...(the other elders)....told them what i wanted out of my mission and asked for theirhelp, and( they) have made alot of changes and are working alot harder. We have done alot of tracting, but still dont have anyone too solid that we are teaching. I have had some really great studies that have altered the way i look at things in my life. I finished marking my last Book of Mormon in August and started another one. I am marking the Blessings and Conditions again. That book has been such a source of strengh for me throughout my mission.

As far as my responsibilities go, all we really have to do is help the missionaries in the Zone to be motivated and be examples for them. We go on alot of trade-offs with younger missionaries and help them in their teaching and finding efforts. We conduct the meetings at Zone Conferences, but President does the main bulk of the Training. Also, every month we have Zone Leader Council in Crestview where we receive leadership training from President on how to encourage and help the missionaries in our Zones. There really isnt too much more than that. Its fun. I actually really like helping the othe Elders. I have served with or around a few of them in this Zone earlier on in the mission, so it is fun to work with them again.

So yeah, that is pretty much it. Ill be able to talk to you more about all the details on the phone in FOUR DAYS!!! I am so excited to talk to you guys. I wont be calling early to set up a time, I will just call you early in the morning like last time and set everything up. Ill probably call around 7 or 8 pm my time. I have so much to talk to guys about, i can hardly wait:) I will write things down this week. I have been religiously writing in my journal over the past 5 months as well so i will have that by me when i talk to guys. We are going to have district meeting on Christmas morning, then we are going to the Soup Kitchen to feed the homeless. I am looking forward to that. After that, we are going to The Shlamers for either lunch or dinner and they said we can just use their phones. We will find out exactly what time we are going over there and i will let you know Christmas morning. The rest of the day, when i am not talking to you guys, we will most likey be tracting. I hope you write stuff down too so that you dont forget anything!

I think the package you sent will be fine. We have a pretty secure mail box that you need a key to get into; and if it is too big for the drop off box, our apartment is on very botton floor of the building and is pretty much the only one down there. Its pretty secluded, so i think the package will be fine, even if they just drop it off.

I promise to be careful over the next ew months, but you guys have to promise to be careful when you go up Skiing. That is going to be so much fun. Did you get to Ski at all last year?

Well, i will stop now so that i will have something to talk to you about on Friday. I love you guys. Please be careful traveling this week. I love you so much. Tel everyone i said hi and i cant wait to talk to them!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Dec 14, 09

2009-12-14T18:29:00.000-08:00

Hi mom and Dad:)

The computers have been the most frustrating thing ever today! I wrote you guys two emails and i am not sure if either of them ended up going through, so this is my last attempt. I actually need to go, but i am going to write you a letter when i get home and send it off in the mail tomorrow. I love you guys so much! I am so sorry!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Dec 8, 2009

2009-12-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

Dec 8, 2009

Hey Mom and Dad-

`This week as been a good week, we have been doing a lot of tracting lately. For a while there it seemed like we had a ton of really promising investigators but they all seemed to have fallen through the cracks lately, except Jenny of course. So we have been looking through our records and doing a lot of prayer and fasting so that we can find more people to teach. Its been kinda tough, but the Lord has definitely helped us out. We had about 3 days this week of non-stop tracting and did not find a single person. By the time Friday came around we were getting pretty discouraged. Then at Zone Conference on Friday we ended up getting a referral from President Summerhays and another referral from Head Quarters. Then on Saturday we got another referral from head quarters. So we are pretty excited to go see them this week.

Jenny is still set for this Saturday. She is so excited. I don’t think her parents are going to come, but she said she is fine with that. It really is one of the best Christmas gifts I could ask for. She is so solid in her testimony. She just had her baptismal interview last night and we have the whole thing all planned out and ready. Ill make sure and take some good pictures.

Thank you so much for the camera!! Oh my gosh, you really didn’t have to get me such a nice one! Seriously, thank you. I love you guys so much. I went ahead and bought another memory card for like $15 so I hope that’s ok. Both memory card were in the other case that got stolen. The cool thing about this camera is that I can put other memory cards into it and just copy their pictures to the internal hard drive of the camera and then just copy them from the internal hard drive back to my own memory card. I hope that makes sence. It makes things much easier. And the good thing about that is that a lot of the p-day district pictures that I lost, I now have them back because Elder Hill had a lot of them on his camera. So im way excited about that.

Im ok as far as presents go, really, I guess the only other thing I would want is pictures. Even just pictures of the house, and the back yard, and the animals, and that kind of stuff, and of course pictures of the family would be awesome too. And if there are any good talks that you like, you could always print of some of those.

I don’t really have too many fun stories from this week. Zone conference was probably the best thing. I love the spirit that is always there with all the missionaries and President Summerhays. I always look forward to the interviews that I have with him. Seriously, this man is inspired. Every time I talk to him it seems like he knows my exact thoughts, because he always says the exact things I need to hear. I cant wait for yall to meet him.

Oh yeah, I guess another thing I would like is some more Juice Plus pills. I finished them off a long time ago. Seriously, you guys would be so dicusted if you looked inside our fridge. Members just keep making us cakes and pies and cookies. And then after zone conference, we got stuck with all the left ove deserts. We have 3 huge cakes, 3 full pies, about 200 homemade cookies, a batch of brownies, and a tub of ice cream. And then of course our main course meal when we don’t go to a members home for dinner consists of Spagettios and either microwave corn dogs or taquitos. So yeah, those juice plus pills would be nice haha.

That’s fun that you went up to Boppa and Colleen’s. That dinner story made me laugh really hard haha. When is the last time yall went to the lake house? Your probably pretty busy lately with work and with getting ready for Christmas. I am getting so excited to call home. The pre-call to set it up will either be the Monday before Christmas (our p-day) or on Christmas eve. We still need to figure that out, I will let you know next Monday.

Anyways, I love you guys with all my heart. Is there any kind of trinkets that you or the kids would like for Christmas? Mom and Dad, I love you and miss you so much. I hope you know how happy I am out here. I love my mission. It means everything to me there is no where else in the world that I would rather be. I just wish you guys were here to share these experiences with me. I love you Mom! I love you Dad! Merry Christmas!!!!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Dec.7 I'm going to be a zone leader in Theodore

2009-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad-

We just got tranfer information, and i am going to be a Zone Leader over in Theodore, Alabama. I am actually a little bit surprised right now. I thought i would be here for at least another transfer and i definately never thought i would be go zone leader on my mission. It will all be ok though. I am going to be serving with Elder Fox. I have heard a little bit about him and he seems like a really good missionary. One of the cool things about leadership is that i dont have to worry about serving with a missionary that doesnt want to work at all, so thats good. I am really going to miss Troy though. There has been so many good people out here. Ed is probably the one i will miss the most. He is one of the miracles that i have witnessed on my mission. His wife mary is slowly coming around. She is so sweet, and Ed has a very strong feeling that one day they will be sealed in the Temple. There are some other really great people too that are going to go really far, and i am a little sad that i dont get to teach them any more; but at the same time, i am pretty excited to go to Theodore. Theodore is in the Mobile Zone. It is probably going to be the most Southern place i have been in so far. From what i hear, there are alot of ghettos out in that area, but i will be careful , dont worry. I am guessing this will be the final area of my mission.

This week has been good. We did alot of service for this less-active family by putting up their Christmas lights. Tracting and Contacting didnt produce too much success this week, but we were still able to find a few people. We had a really great lesson with Dora and her family on Tuesday. We approached it a little bit differently this time. Instead up going in and just teaching a specific lesson, we started off by asking, " what questions do you have about God?" It went so well. Each question that was asked was so profound. The Spirit was working through everyone in the room, inspiring each member of the family with the questions they should ask. Then instead of us just answering there questions right away, we asked, "Well, what do you feel the answer is?" Because of how strong the Spirit was in the room, each person was giving true doctrinal answers to their own questions. Even the 11 year old boy that was their asked the question, "well if God created us, then who created Him?" It was a really great night. Later on in the week we had a really good lesson with Ed as well. He was telling us about his first revelatory experiences that he has had since he has been baptized. He recieved two very strong answers this week that the Church is the one true Church. The testimony that he bore of those experiences in that lesson was so powerful, and helped to root my own testimony even deeper of the truth of this work.

It sounds like you have a fun few days with Parker. I am so excited to see all the kids. I am also really excted to see the dogs, as lame as that sounds. I laughed when i read about sadie getting all freaked out from the heater and then climbing in bed with you. She is so funny.

I thought of a couple things i could use out here. I could use a black sweater. I know express has black sweaters that fit me pretty good. I could also use some gloves. Just some thin normal cotton or wool ones. It is getting really cold out here. Just yesterday it dropped to 24 degrees and was supposed to snow, but it never did. For now those are thonly things i can think of.

I am sorry there is not much more to write about. We had some other lessons throughout the week and some doors slammed in our faces, and some cookey people we talked to, but i always feel like i am boring you when i write the little details that dont really matter. I am a little nervous right now to leave Troy and go to Theodore. Leadership scares me because i still feel like i dont know anything about it. But it will be a good change. I know the Lord will fill in for my weaknesses and give me the strength i need. He has done it for the past 20 months, so why would he stop now?

I love you guys so much. Christmas is going to be great. I cant wait to talk to you. Tell everyone that i love them!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

2009-12-07T18:28:00.000-08:00

Nov. 30, 2009 A good Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T18:12:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

Wow, it seems like there is alot going on back home right now, or at least there is a lot that is on your minds. That is so cool that you went out to the Ranch and fixed up the road ranger. It has been way to long since we have been up there. That is a really good idea that you guys had about keeping your RV there. How far away is Shawnas place from the ranch again?

It sounds like you had a good Thanksgiving. Thursdays are usually our weekly planning days, so our Thanksgiving started off with Planning until around 11:30. Then after that we went and had our first meal with An investigator named Dora and her family. There are about 10 of them that we are currently teaching and they are a very classic southern family, so yes the food was the greasiest of greasy. We had turkey, collard greens, brocolli casarolle, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, and all kinds of desert. I was extremely full. They are really great people and they made us feel right at home. So right after we left there, we had promised a less-active little old southern white lady named Big that we would go over and eat with her family. I was already about to throw up, but i had to lossen the belt, and go for another Thanksgiving meal. Big had cooked almost all of the same stuff as Dora, only everything seemed to be alot greasier. I had to be polite and fill my plate full of food, and of course Big forced us to eat tons of desert. All three of us left Bigs house about ready to die. We road bikes for the rest of the day though so that helped to keep us from falling asleep. The rest of our Thanksgiving day was good. We just knocked on doors for the rest of the day, but didnt really have too much success beacause it seemed like everyone was out of town for the holidays.

The rest of the week went really well. We got a refferal from a member in the Branch to go see this guy named Chris who is a student here at Troy University. It turns out this guy is very smart is really open to religion. The first lesson with him went so good, and he agreed with everything we talked about. We invited him to church, and he ended up driving out to Dothan which is an hour away and buying all new church cloths because he didnt have any. We are really excited about him. We have some other really solid people we are teaching right now as well.

I got your letters in the mail today. Thank you so much. I really appreciated that. I signed that paper and it is going in the mail today. I didnt really understand what it was though. Was it just qualifying me for Student aids or loans or something?

I cant really think of anything that i really want for Christmas. There are some little things that i have been wanting that i havent had the money for, but i can live them. I was looking for something to whiten my teeth before i go back home, dad, and i was wondering if you knew what worked best. I know that you can by different kinds of whitening strips from walmart, and my companions have said that they work pretty good. Do you know if those work? Anyways, i guess that is one idea for you of what i could use. As far as cloths go, i am tryind to wear everything out before the end of the mission. All my pants and Shirts are holding up pretty good, and i think i will be able to hold off until home. Shoes are the only things i am a little concerned about. The Bostonians that i got before i came out have almost had enough. They are starting to fall apart. I have been wearing another Elders shoes that went home a tranfer ago and those have been working out pretty good. So i think i will be fine for another 4 months, and i am not just saying that. I think i would rather by a new pair later than get a new pair now and wear them out before i get home. Dang, i am sorry that i am so lame. I really just need to think of stuff i need, i am sorry i am so difficult around Christmas time. Is there anything that you guys would like? Any souveniers or anything? I promise i will try and think of more things i need.

Well, im sorry that i have just written the most boring letter ever. I need to go email president now. I love you guys so much. Thank you for eerything!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Nov 23, 2009 Teaching Dora and her family-Time is going at light speed

2009-11-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

Thank you for those adresses. I am pretty sure that i sent letters to both Chad and Shawna about a month ago that went to the wrong adresses. Oops. So you guys had a dull week huh? Im sorry to hear that. Why did you end up taking the house off the market? I really hope you didnt do it for me! That will be nice though, to come back to a place that i am actually familiar with. That will be fun to have Katey and Keegan home for Thanksgiving. Is the ward doing any kind of turkey bowl or anything? That really stinks that Katey has Mono. I hated that so bad! Yeah hopefully nobody else catches it.

We have a couple Dinners lined up for Thanksgiving, so that we be nice. At 12pm, we are going over to an investigators house to eat with this huge family of like 10 people that we found last week. Its a pretty cool story. We knocked into this lady named Dora, and we taught her for about 5 minutes. She told us that she wanted us to come back in a few days, but we werent really sure how sincere she was beacause she seemed like she was pretty set in her ways. We went back a few days later for our appointment, and when we pulled up, we saw that there were a ton of people at her house, and a bunch of them were dressed pretty nicely. There door was opened so we could see inside that there was alot of people there. We figured that they had forgotten about our appoinment and were haveing some kind of party or something, but as we walked up to the house, Dora came outside and said that She had been waiting for us. When we went inside, there were about 12 people sitting down on the couches and on the floor and they were all waiting for us to come teach them! I guess Dora has a bunch of extended family, and she called them all up and told them to come over to listen to us. So as we taught, every single person there was participating and asnwering questions. It was so awsome. The lesson was really good and the Spirit filled the room. After the lesson, they asked us if we went home on the holidays to be with our families; when we told them we didnt, they told us that we were going to go to their place for Thanksgiving. And they are white! whoo whoo! So that was a cool experience that we had this week.

For a while there, we were having a really hard time finding anyone to teach, but recently, all of the knocking on doors has paid off. We recently were able to find a guy who is about our age named jared. We ran into him a couple weeks ago and he told us to just give him a call because he would be really busy that week. We left him with a Chapter to read from the Book of Mormon, but we figured that would be the last we heard from him because that is what most people say when they just want to get rid of us. So we ended up calling him this last tuesday, and he had read the chapter we left him, and had prayed about it, and wants to continue taking the lessons. He is a really smart guy who is a business major here at Troy University. He came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it, so we are very excited about the things that have been going on lately. We really have been so blessed here in Troy.

Lately, i have been thinking alot about how scarey it is to be going home in less than 5 months. I feel like i still have so much more to learn, and not even close to enough time to learn it. I dont think i am going to be ready to go home in April! I have been studying alot lately out of the Christ like attributes chapter out of Preach my Gospel, and i have come to the conclusion that i dont have any of them! Who is going to want to marry me?! I have been in a week long study of Charity and have been trying to apply it everyday. I am going to do that with every attribute in Ch. 6 of Preach my Gospel and hopefully it will help. As you can tell, i am starting to get stressed out because it seems like time is all of a sudden going light speed and i dont have anough time to do anything. Do you guys have any advise for me?

I think i want to get started with School as soon as possible when i get back, but i also dont want to overload myself, because i want to have some time with the family over the summer as well. That is pretty crazy that Alison is getting married, and Kevin too! What the heck? What is the guys name that Megan Groch is dating again? You said he was an AP in this mission?

Sorry that this letter was so scattered. I have alot on my mind lately. It is going to be so refreshing to be able to talk to you guys next month about everything. I am having the time of my life right now. Sometimes it is hard for me to put in words the feelings i have about my mission, so it will be nice to talk to you on the phone about it all.

I cant really think of anything that i need for Christmas. I think i am just going to try to make everything last until the end. My pants, shirts, and shoes are all starting to fall apart, but i think they will make it. I am sorry again that my letters arent better, i can never express how i feel very well. JUst know that i love you guys so much. Thank you for everything!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Nov 16, 2009 Powerful impressions on the power of prayer

2009-11-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!

Mom, i hope you know that i have remembered your Birthday all week and i wasnt able to get a letter out until Today. I almost got you a card last monday, but then i felt bad and i ended up not buying it because it wouldnt have been too appropiate. You would have laughed though. So i ended up just printing some pictures off and wrote a small letter. I hope that is ok. There really wasnt too much to get for you in Troy. But anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Sorry i am a day late. Did you guys end up doing anything exciting?

I am glad to hear that everything worked out well with Boppas party. Sounds like Parker is trouble. I am so excited to get to know him better. I am also so excited that Mom was able to find that video of Switzerland. How long was that video? I am excited to see all of our relatives. Do you think you will ever go back?

Thank you so much for those pictures. Julie is so old! What the heck?! Ryan still looks pretty much the same, I love it!

That is cool that Ray and Brett are both doing up at school. Our new companion Elder Barney went to LDS Business college and says that he really liked it. I dont even want to think about it yet. The more i think about it, the more i just get scared. Life is so good right now because i only have to focus on one thing every single day. I feel like there is going to be so many things to worry about when i get home! It will be good though.

This week has been really good. We havent had very many really solid investigators lately, so we have been doing alot of knocking on doors and contacting people on the street. This week has been pretty succesful. A huge part of it has been prayer. A couple weeks ago, i realized my prayers were starting to get pretty repetitious. So the next morning i had some really powerful impressions about the importance of prayer. Ever since that experience, i have been keeping a Prayer and answer Journal that has helped me so much lately. I have never in my life felt the reality of personal revelation so strongly. A huge influence on me was the Talk that Elder Scott gave in the first session of this last conference. I went back and read it, and it really hit home for me the importance of recieveing personal revelation. In the past week, i have recieved personal instruction that has helped me so much in the work and with my companions. I found i really cool scripture yesterday that gave me alot of comfort about Boppa. When i was in sunday school, one of the Chinese recent converts asked a question that made me think about Nonna and Boppa. He said, "Will my family have the opportunity to recieve the fulness of the Gospel even if they encountered it but did not accept it in this life?" When he asked that, i started to flip through my scriptures and i came across a verse in Moroni 7 that stuck out to me. In V.47 it says," But Charity is the pure love of Chrsit, and it endureth forever; and WHOSO is found possesed with it at the last day, IT SHALL BE WELL WITH HIM. Boppa was one of the most kind, loving, and fun people to be around. He was charitable. And it says whoso has Charity at the last day, it shall be well with them.

Tracting has been interesting lately. We have found alot of really solid people, but also alot of crazies. The drunk people are always the best. We had a guy the other day invite us into his home who was out of his mind. He kept going back and forth into the other room and we thought he was going to come out with a gun or something. We finally got him to sit down and we talked with him for a little bit. He said he knew he had a problem and that he wanted to quit drinking. We told him that the only way he could overcome his addiction is if he acted right now and threw all his alchohol out. He told us he would quit after he finished it all; so we told him we couldnt help him then. After talking about it for a little bit, Elder Barney cracked his neck, and the man jumped up off his chair and yelled, " i can break your neck for you!" He grabbed elder Barneys face and from what it looked like was about to break his neck! Elder Barney is a pretty big guy so he smacked the guys arms out of the way and We pulled the guy away. We felt that that was probably our key to leave. We have some wierd experinces like that everyday. Troy is a very interesting place.

Anyways, i am probably getting boring, and i need to go email President. Is there anything i can do for you guys? Do you want any souveniers or anything from Alabama? I am so excited to talk to you guys on Christmas. I love you so much!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Nov 9 2009 Powerful interview with the President

2009-11-09T20:37:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!

It sounds like things are going good back home. Julie is already 8 years old? That is crazy. I am so excited to see those kids. Was Julie excited for her baptism? I wish i could have been there for that.

We had another good week this week. We had Zone conference in Dothan on Friday and then Stake conference in Dothan on Saturday and Sunday. This Zone Conference was one of the best ones that i have had so far on my mission. I recieved alot of really cool personal insights, and answers to alot of questions that i have had. At every conference, we get an interview with President which is probably my favorite part of the whole conference. In this last interview, President told me some things that struck me pretty deeply. After a few minutes of us talking, i asked President, "How is it, that even though you have to interview over 150 missionaries a week, it always feels as though when we are talking, i am the the only missionary that matters to you most right at that moment. It always feel like everything you say is so personal and tailor fitted to only me." President then told me, "That is the miracle of it, I feel the same way. When i interview each missionary, it is as if they are the only missionary that exhists right at that moment." Your probably wondering why i am telling you this. I recieved an answer in that interview to a question that i have had for my entire life. I have always wondered how it was possible for Christ to really know each of our individual pains, when he had to suffer for billions of others. I always thought that it was just a blend of everybodies pains and sicknesses all at once. When President said that he was able to feel in each interview Gods individual love for that missionary, and that noone else right at that moment even mattered, i recieved a personal witness of how the Atonement of Jesus Christ works. When Christ was in Gethsemane, and he suffered the pains and afflictions of every single person who ever lived, i feel very strongly there was a time set apart where he was able to only experience my personal pains, weaknesses, and sins; and at that moment, it was as if noone or nothing else mattered than that personal experience between the Savior and I. That probably didnt make any sence in words, but that experience changed my outlook on th Atonement of Christ, and the Tailored, individual love that he has for each and every one of us.

Anyways, The rest of the week was pretty good. We have been finding alot of people, but none of them have been keeping their commitments. We dont have too many solid investigators right at this moment, so we are doing alot of tracting to try and build our teaching pool. Although we are kind of in a drought right now, i am still loving every moment, of every day. The closer i am getting to the end of my mission, the more i am loving every experience that i have. Elder Bond and Elder Barney are both great. This is the highlight of my life right now serving in Troy.

Has anything happened with the house yet? I still have no idea what i am going to do for school. In my next interview with President Summerhays, i am going to ask him if i can go online on P-day and see what is available in Utah. I know he usually tells the missionaries who are going home soon to do that anyways. Do you have anymore ideas?

I have still been eating pretty good and i am on a pretty good exercise routine each morning with my companions. We have been waking up at around 6:10am everymorning doing pushups, sit ups, and then running 1-2 miles. I am planning on looking like Brad Pitt when i get off the airplane, so dont be suprised when you see me.

I hope everything is going better back home. Mom i was really worried about you last. I hope everything is going ok. From this last email it seems like your alot happier. I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything. This next Spring is going to be so much fun. I just really hope i am not a wierdo when i go home! I LOVE YOU! Have a great Week, and i will talk to you guys next month!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

P.S.- There is a huge storm right on course with Fort Walton right now! Troy is still expected to get tons of rain. Im not sure if its a hurricane or a Tropical storm though.

2009-11-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

Nov.2, 2009 My Mission mean everything to me...

2009-11-02T10:48:00.000-08:00

Hey guys-

Im sorry that things are still pretty difficult. I really wish that there was something i could do. That will be nice going up and being with the whole family. I really wish that Uncle Ron and everyone could just understand what the truth really is. I cant even imagine not having the Gospel during trials like these. Mom that is really cool that you were able to bear your testimony to Ron.

This week was another good one. Elder Ringwood from the Seventy came down for a mission conference on Thursday and we had a very powerful meeting with him. He was the one who spoke in General conference about experiencing a change of heart. All of the meetings and Zone conferences that we have are pretty much just giant revelatory study sessions. President generally starts with a certain topic, reads a scripture about it, and then just asks us how we feel or what we are thinking. He doesnt ever just preach to us, he just lets the Spirit take the conferences where they are supposed to go. Elder Ringwood followed that same pattern and it was a great meeting.

Our new companion is a pretty cool Elder. His name is Elder Barney. He is a hard worker and is really easy to get along with, so thats good. This is my first 3-some of the mission so it will be interesting to see how it works out. We have had some good laughs so far. I feel like you guys probably think i dont even have a sence of humor anymore because all the things i ever write about are so serious. I promise i am still human.

We are teaching some really cool people right now. Ed is still on fire. He has been so much happier since his baptism. He is getting really excited about doing baptisms for the dead.

That is the coolest idea for Boppa. I cant wait to go to the Temple next year with all of the family. That will be such a great experience. I cant wait to go right when i get back as well. I feel like i have been deprived of the temple out here. Maybe we can right when i get home, before i get released.

What are you guys going to do for Thanksgiving? Does the Ward still do the turkey bowl or anything fun like that? Is Bishop Madsen still the Bishop? Is President Burnnette still the Stake President? I keep feeling like there are going to be all these huge changes when i get back, but then again, it has only been a little over a year and a half. This last tranfer was a bit wierd for me. My original MTC group that i came out with the first time went home this past Tranfer. And also, the sister missionaries that i came out with this time, just went home as well. I dont feel like i have been out here for as long as i have! I am down to the last 5 months of my mission, and i dont know where it all went. Mom and Dad, i want you to know, that my mission means absolutely everything to me. I really cant even put it into words. There is nothing that i could say, that would do Justice to how I feel. It just means everything to me. I have been able to see little glimpses of my future and blessings that are in store, and i am convinced that my mission has set me on a path of happiness that i would not have ever found if i had not served. Mom and Dad, Thank You. I could not repay you enough in a single lifetime for what you have done for me. I LOVE YOU. I hope Katey, Shawna, and Chad know that i feel the same way about them. They impacted my life more than they know. I LOVE our family.

Sorry i didnt have much to write this week. Tell me if there is anything i can do for you guys. I love you so much!

Love, Elder Josh Burnham

Oct. 26, 2009 Boppa's Passing

2009-10-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

When President called and told me what happened, he said that he had some Glorious, but a little bit sad news. Thats exactly what kind of news it was. Yeah, it is a little bit sad, but a whole lot more glorious. He is now on the path of progression with Nonna and does covered with the veil of unbelief anymore. President told me alot of really interesting things concerning the conversion process in the spirit world. He told me that Boppa is watching everything that i am doing out here and that that is softening his heart in preparation to recieve the Gospel. That gave me alot of comfort. How great is the Plan of Salvation! There is not a doubt in my mind that Chad is absolutely right, that Nonna was just waiting for him so that she could bear her testimony of the truths she had been taught. I think that She when she heard the Doctors say that he had another week or two, she was the impatient one and hit him over the head with the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful truth. We have nothing at all to fear or to be sad about. There are so many ancestors that were just waiting to surround with loving arms and with the truths of the Gospel. I think Eternity is summed up best in these words,
"There is no end to virtue,
There is no end to might,
There is no end to wisdom,
There is no end to light,
There is no end to union,
There is no end to youth,
There is no end to priesthood,
There is no end to truth

There is no end to glory,
There is no end to love,
There is no end to being,
There is no death above."

How great is the Plan of Salvation. Because of Christ, There is no end to happiness. Right at this moment, Boppa is learning eternal truths that will seal him to our family. God will be merciful to him. We all know Boppa's heart. I am just so grateful to KNOW where he is. I love you so much Mom. I hope you know that i was not depressed or sad about the news, i am just excited for him. I love you too Dad. Thank you for taking care of mom:)

We had a great week. Ed Stevens was Baptized on Friday. It was a very powerful experience. Elder Bond Baptized him and i confirmed. I cant wait until you meet him when we come back out here. Now we are going to try and help his wife Mary to find the truth as well. Ed is on a spiritual high right now. He is constantly on LDS.org and ordering ensigns and all sorts of stuff. He really wants a leather bound Quad so i think he is going to order one soon.

We have been doing alot of finding lately. We have found alot of new investigators but alot of them never show for their return appointments. Its been really fun though, just tracting and talking to people all over Pike County. We have gotten lost a few times this week on dirt roads out in the Country just looking for some of our less-active members. This area is very interesting, but i am loving it.

We just got tranfer information today. Elder Bond and I are both staying together and we are Training a new missionary. Its going to be interesting being in a three-some but i think it will be fun. I now officially have 4 tranfers left of my mission. Things are flying by way too fast now. It is almost November. When the Hollidays hit, everything is going to be crazy!

Im glad that you liked President Summerhays. How long did you talk to him for? I had a really good talk with him. He said he really loved talking to you guys. It made me happy that you were able to talk with him. He is the Best!

Well, i hope you know how much i love you guys. Thank you for filling me in on everything. I know Boppa is so Grateful right now for you examples. I love you Mom! I lovMom and Dad-

2009-10-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

Letter Oct. 19 Ed Stevens, I feel very peaceful about everything

2009-10-19T19:08:00.001-07:00

Hey guys!

This has been such a good week. Thank you again for all your emails. They really help me so much. Every Monday i feel like i get a new boost from the emails i get from you. It sounds like you you guys had a good week at the lake with Uncle Ron. Thats so good that you were able to spend some time with him. I kepp forgetting that we actually have seadoos now. That is going to be so fun this spring. That is pretty sad that Julie got sick on her birthday. Hopefully she still had a good one. I need to write her and Shawna today and wish them happy Birhdays.

Like i said, we had such a good week. Since we met Ed about two weeks ago, we have met with him almost every day. The first lesson that we had with him, he said that his whole life, he has never been able to feel anything in religion. To him, God was something he could only think of intelectually but could never feel that it was true in his heart. So all of our lessons have been focused around the Book of Mormon and gaining the witness of its truth not just in his mind, but his heart as well. Ever since the first lesson we had with him, he has been progressing at such a rapid pace. In every lesson, there will be moments of silence where Ed will just close his eyes and say that this all feels right. On Wedanesday this week, We had the most powerful lesson that we had had with him up until that point. Long story short, Ed wants to be baptized this coming Friday! Its only been two weeks! We are so excited. I cant wait for you to meet him when we come back out here. He is such a solid guy. In that lesson that we had with him, he again closed his eyes after he decided to be baptized, and we just sat in silence for a couple minutes. When he opened his eyes again, they were tear filled and he said, "I know that this is true. I can finally Feel it." After almost 60 years of searching, Ed has finally found what he was looking for. I love every bit of my mission. There can be nothing more sweet and more rewarding than being an eye witness of the power of God working in someones life.

Then on Saturday night, another really powerful experience happened, only it was a little bit different. Our neighbor, who is an Atheist came over and asked if he could use our laundry. We let him throw his cloths in the wash, and then he left. He came back at around 9:45pm to put his stuff in the dryer and then started to question us. This guy has probably spent the last 5-10 years of his life studying Philosiphy and Physics and all this stuff that is way over my head. He told us that there was no logical need for a God and he used the most complex and fancy language to describe scientifically why there is no God. After about 15 minutes of him giving us this shpeal about how the Book of Mormon and the Bible contain no real evidence, he stopped and let us speak. At this point, Elder Bond and i both felt completely overwhelmed with the Spirit. We sat down, stacked our bibles and our Books of Mormon, and placed them behind us and said, let us tell you what we KNOW. We dont know this from these books, we know this from every bit of our souls. We then Bore testimony of what we KNEW to be true. Then we asked him what he KNOWS. As he began to speak, he started making reference to some other book or person, and we said, No, we just laid our Books aside and told you what we KNOW, we want you to tell us what you KNOW from your heart, not from what you studied. He struggled with this for a minute and there was silence. He realized at that moment that he didnt know what he knew. He then said im not saying that there is no God, i am just saying that i am 99 percent sure there is not God. Than one of us looked at him and said, "Do you even know who you are?" He stayed silent. Then one of us said again, I know exactly who you are." Again, he stayed silent. We could tell by his eyes and knew by the spirit that he started to be afraid. Then one of us said," You know that I know who you are." Elder Bond and i had never felt the spirit of dicernment so strongly than at that moment. Right after that was said, he was completely dumbfounded and he didnt have anything more to say. And right at that moment, the Buzzer for the Dryer went off. He got up, got his cloths out of the dryer, and left our apartment almost without a word. It was a very intersting night.

There were many cool experiences like that this week. I have felt very peaceful about everything and i am just happy. Im sorry that i cant explain things very well in words. That last story propably doesnt make any sence, but at the time it did. I wish i could explain it better.

Anyways, the weather is getting very cold. I pulled out my jackets this week. Is it really still in the 90's at the lake?

I love you guys so much. I dont really know what i need yet as far as Christmas goes. I will think of something. I wont need too much considering i will be home less than 4 months after Christmas. Mom- I love you. Dad- I love you. Thanks for everything:)

Love, Josh

LETTER OCT. 13

Mom and Dad-

That is crazy that someone else is coming in and buying echoe. I really hope they dont turn it into a huge fancy resort. I like it just the way it is. That is good news to hear that the Angels are making it pretty far again. Do you remember that really akward year where that reporter came over to watch the World Series game with us? That is really sad that the webbs are moving to

to san diego. Isnt that going to add another hour or two to get the lake? Are the still going to go very often? I am looking forward to the family trips out there again. This Spring is going to be so great. It is still really wierding me out that i have under 6 months left. This could be my last area, but i have a feeling that i will have one more before i am done. I am hoping that i get to spend Christmas here in Troy with Elder Bond.

Troy is a very interesting place. I am still getting used to it here. I just feel like i am out in the middle of nowhere. The Branch here also does does some wierd things that makes me wonder sometimes. It is so different serving in a branch. It seems like there are alot of the little doctrines and rules that just kind of get brushed aside. Its a little strange, but were working with them. As far as the rest of Troy goes, it is great. Like i said, most of the people here are african american and very friendly. Some of them are a little crazy, but that ok, we get a good laugh sometimes. The other day we were teaching this middle aged black man about prophets, and we were done he said, "Well, the Prophet Martin Luther King Jr. once said....," and then he went on to say some crazy things. So we went back and tried to further explain the exact definition of what a Prophet really is. Then he said, "ok i see, well, In the words of the Prophet Barrak (Obama).....," and after he said that Elder Bond and i had to bite our lips because we almost lost it. The people out here looooooove Barrak, its pretty crazy. Itll be interesting when i get home and i am actually going to have to start caring about what is going on out inthe world, because i dont have a clue about anything that is going on right now.

Our investigators are doing great. Ed, that one guy that i told you about that ran after us, is doing so good. We have met with him almost every day this past week. He is in his 40's and teaches Law over here at the University. He used to be a lawyer but he retired, so he is a very smart person. He is one of the most open minded, and humble people i have taught on my mission. I have never met anyone in the past 18 months as golden as Ed is. The lessons that we have with him are all so powerful and it seems like the spirit works through hime more than it does with us. He loves the Book of Mormon and just cant get enough of it. He has been reading it non stop. He can recognize the spirit in his life and he is just so excited. Alot of things that he has struggled with in the past, he has found answers to in his reading. I am so excited for him! We have some other investigators that are really solid as well, but for now, just pray for Ed, he is the best.

Thank you so much for that package that you sent me:) I really appreciated that. I have been eating the stupid cookies all week. Thank you for your emails as too. I love hearing about everything that is going on back home. I hope everyone is doing well, including the dogs. How is the home ward doing? Has there been any big changes? Any move ins or move outs? I love you guys so much and i miss you too! But we will talk on the phone in just a couple months so i am looking forward to that. I love you!!!

Love, Josh

Oct 5, 09 plus pictures! Meeting Ed

2009-10-05T21:03:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad!

It sounds like you guys had another great week. That stinks that it was all windy at the lake. It sounds like Parker and Blake are so much fun to have around. I hear California is still all on fire. Is there any fires that are close to our house?

This week was great. I have actually been sick for most of the week, but it only slowed us down for a day or two. I have just been coughing like crazy. We drove up to Dothan Alabama and got some antibiotics and since then i have been feeling better. There were alot of cool little miracles that happened this week. We set some pretty hi goals at the begining of the week, so when i got sick, we were worried that we wouldnt be able to reach them because we also knew that Saturday and Sunday would be pretty busy with General Conference. So by the end of the week on Sunday, we only had 3 out of the 8 investigators that we had set goals to find. So on Saturday night, we prayed that miracles would happen and that we would find 5 new investigators on sunday to reach our goals. So after conference on Sunday evening at 5 pm, we went knocking on doors, and ended up finding 7 new people to teach. It was a really great experience, and just one more tetimony builder for me that the Lord answers prayers.

Another really cool thing happened this week. While we were knocking on doors on Tuesday, we ran into a guy who was a little short with us and said that he didnt want to talk about the Mormon Faith right then. So we went down the street and kept knocking on doors, and after the knocking on one of the doors, the guy that we had talked to previously that told us he wasnt interested came running up the street and apologized and asked us if we could come back and talk with him. The mans name is Ed and he is so golden! The lesson that we had with him was probably the most powerful lesson of my mission. After we sat down in his home, he just started asking us all of these deep heart felt questions like; "How does God look at suffereing? What is the difference between belief and faith? What is the purpose of being here? Do we need to do anything to be saved"? Ed is a very smart man, but he has been looking for answers to these questions through Philosophy and some other recources. He said that he was on the computer trying to find answers to these questions when we came to the door. At first he didnt think anything of it, but then after he told us to leave, he thought alot about how strange it was that we came right when he was searching for thes seemingly impossible to find answers. So that is when he ran and got us. I have never felt the spirit so strongly as we taught him. Thoughts and scriptures came to mind that i had never used in my teaching, and everything we said seemed to just blow his mind. We have taught Ed twice now and he is just eating the Book of Mormon up. He came to the 2nd session of conference on Sunday as well which was Amazing! Was Elder Hollands talk not the coolest talk ever? I thought he was going to give Ed a heart attack! Anyways, we are teaching some really great genuine people here in Troy and i love it.

I cant remember to much more of the week, those were the hilights. I hope you got the pictures i sent. Sorry i didnt label them like i usually do, i didnt have very much time and i wanted to get them sent off like i promised. There wasnt very many of Troy, so i am working on taking some more to send home. If you have any to put on the chip, i would love that:)

Oh yeah you asked about our district; It is only Me, Elder Bond, The Sisters who cover Troy University Campus, and an Older Couple who covers Euphala. I guess i didnt tell you about the other areas that we Elder Bond and i cover besides Troy. We cover a small town called Brundige, and another even smaller town called Goshen. We actually cover all of Pike County so if you Google map that you can so all of the back woods areas we cover as well. We actually spent alot of time this week in these little towns driving on these dirt roads in the middle of nowhere trying to find less-active members. It was way fun.

By the way, it is my 18 month mark this coming Friday! Pretty crazy huh? I could have sworn i just hit my year mark like yesterday. It scares me how fast time is flying by. Christmas is almost here! I feel like there is still so much that i havent learned out here.

K well i should probably get going so i can email President Summerhays. I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything!

Love, Josh

2009-10-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

JOSH'S NEW ADDRESS

2009-09-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

New Address in Troy:

Elder Joshua Joel Burnham
503 E. Elm St. Apt. #5
Troy, AL 36081

Josh's letter Sept 28 09-2nd week in Troy AL

2009-09-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

Hey guys! Troy is amazing. That is cool that you are able to google map the area. Like you said, it is a really small area. We actually cover all of Pike county which covers a smaller city called Brundage and all the rural areas round about. We have alot of investigators that live out in the sticks, so it is really interesting to get out and see the real backwood areas. Theres a good mix of white and black here. Most of the community is black, but not all. The cool thing is that there are a ton of Chinese foreign exchange students here, and we are teaching about 5 of them. One of them just got baptized recently, and he speaks a little more English than the rest, so he comes with us and translates. It is so different teaching these chinese students. I am used to teaching people that already have a good knowledge of who God is and what the bible is; but these students have not even heard of God, or the bible! It is so different! But at the same time, it is good because they are so innocent and their minds have not been corrupted with all of the apostate Christian doctrines that pollute the South.

The members here are pretty cool. It is a pretty small branch so things are a little bit different. For instance: They dont allow women to say the opening prayer in sacrament. There are a few other little things that are a bit strange, but its all good. The Branch President seems pretty solid. Right now we are just trying to get the branch re-motivated to do missionary work. We get fed maybe a a few times a week, so its not too bad as far as dinners go. The cooking out here is amazing. We has pan fried stakes the other night that were fried in about 2lbs of butter and grease. My insides have been greased up all week from that one meal.

Elder Bond is really great. Me and him are already best friends. He has only been out for about 4 months, but his teaching skills are amazing and he is the hardest worker i have been with so far on my mission. I have not had any free time at all for the past week. We get in at 9pm, then we plan until about 945, then we have been flagging all of our less-active members in the branch on a giant wall map that we bought, and we do that until about 1015, and by that time we hardly have any time to write in our journals or study or anything. It feels really good to be working so hard. I could not be doing this by myself. The Lord has given me strength beyond my own, and i have felt his presence so strong the past couple weeks. The last couple days, i have actually been pretty sick with a cold, but Elder Bond gave me a blessing a couple days ago, and even though i havnt felt too great, i havent slowed down at all form the sickness.

Like i said, we are teaching some really great people. The Chinese students are all really solid, then we have a lady named Alexas who is progressing every day. Sam and Miriam are probably are most solid. They are a married couple from Kenya who have a little baby boy. Then we also have Jorge, who is a hispanic guy who has read like 20 chapters form the book of mormon in just about a week. The people here are great, we just need to motivate the members to help us by coming with us to appoinments and whatnot.

Thank you for looking up all that information for schools. That will be very helpful. I think President usually starts letting us look that stuff up on our P-days when we are down to around 4 months left. Can you believe that it is almost october? Christmas season is just 2 months away! I wonder if i will still be in Troy when i talk to yall on Christmas? Who knows, but i am excited to talk to you guys. I am also very excited for General conference. We have some investigators coming so that will be good.

The Pictures are being sent in the mail TODAY!!! I am sorry for the lag. I have been so busy, and last P-day went by way too fast. I promise, Today they will be sent. Oh and by the way, can you send me everybodies adresses again? I think i left my adress book in Fort Walton. Anyways, i dont know what else to say. The weather here is still hot and sticky. Today has cooled down a little bit, so hopefully this is the starting point for the faal weather. I love you guys so much! Thank you for everything! I miss you and love you and pray for you everyday.

Love, Josh

LETTER FROM SEPT. 21. First week in Troy, Alabama

Hi guys!!

So i think this is going to be one of the best tranfers of my mission. Elder Bond is a super hard worker and we get along so good. This area is on fire. This week has been so great! My second day here we had one whole entire day of teaching lessons all day long. That has never happened in any of my areas. Troy is alot smaller than any of the areas ive been in so far. I guess there is around 6500-11000 people here but most of them are college students so during the summer and holidays there arent very many people here at all. It is so much different up here in Alabama than anywhere else i have been. I cant really explain, its just different. This whole town just looks like a little piece of down town Baltimore or something. Everything here is really historical.

We are teaching alot of really solid people right now. A few of them are some guys from China that are here for school at Troy University. They dont speak that great of English, but its enough to where they can understand what we are saying. We have 3 investigators with baptismal dates so that will be good. You have no idea how happy i am to be here right now. I feel like all the things that i did in Fort Walton have prepared me for Troy. Elder Bond and i are working so hard together and it feel great. The Lord has been blessing us so much in the short amount of time that i have been here. If i had to compare him to any of my companions it would probably be Elder Taylor, which is wierd because this was where Elder Taylor served for 11 months after he served with me. I have never been happier. I feel like i have said that alot before.

I am ok as far as food goes. I have been eating alot healthier for the past 6 months. I feel alot better as a result so thats good. Sorry i never listened to you mom. Today i felt like a girl; I bought This organic oat cereal, soymilk, carrots, peppers, bannanas, apples, and wheat thins. That was my shopping for the whole week. Oh yeah, my adress is 503 E. Elm st apt. #5 Troy, AL 36081.

That is pretty crazy that are dogs almost got killed by a rattle snake. I would have been very sad, so i am glad they are ok. I just got emails from Brett and Ray. It sounds like they are having alot of fun up there at Snow. I still dont know what i want to do. I will probably go to Provo. That way i can still hang out with with them, i just wont necesarily be right there in Salt Lake city. How is the family doing? Any funny stories? I wrote everyone letters this week so hopefully they will forgive me for being a slacker.

Sorry about the pictures. I was going to send them off, but then i decided to wait until i got to Troy so that you could see the new companion and the new area and everything. You will get peictures this week. I love you so much. Im going to go email President now. Tell everyone i love them!

Love, Elder Burnham

Sept. 14, 2009 Waiting for the Transfer

Mom and Dad-

So we are here at the library but we have not yet received transfer information. So I will just keep writing until I get that email. I am actually pretty nervous, but also very excited. This could end up being my last area, but I doubt it. I will probably have one more after this next one. I definitely wrote Boppa a thank you letter by the way. It was probably 5 or 6 months late, but I definitely wrote one. Its ok though, I know I have been horrible at writing people back. I set a goal for myself a few days ago that I am going to take a couple hours out of every p-day and write everyone in the family, even if it is just a small note. A few nights ago I was laying in bed, and I was overwhelmed with the live that I felt for our family, and after that passed, I was also overwhelmed with guilt for not ever writing anybody in our family. So I am going to start today.

This week was a pretty good week. We spent a lot of time knocking on doors and trying to contact potential investigators that we had found a couple months ago. We didn’t have too much success this week in our finding efforts, but I still felt like we got a lot accomplished. We actually found a couple of people to teach that seem pretty solid. One guy was named Eugene, and he has a wife and a few young kids. He has been looking for a church to settle down in with his family and he said that ours was the only one that he felt peaceful about. So we are excited about him. We are teaching another couple right now who seemed pretty normal at first, but come to find out, they both claim to see spirits on a regular basis. And I guess one was petting my hair in sacrament meeting last week. Pretty weird haha.

We just received transfer information! I am going to Troy Alabama with Elder Bond. From what I here, Elder Bond is a very hard worker and is a pretty cool guy. He has been out for only a few months. Troy is a really small town with a lot of back wood country so I am really excited about that.. Elder Bond and I are going to be co-district leaders so that will be nice to have another person to give trainings with each week. I am so excited right now! I have loved Fort Walton so much, but it is mainly because I have had the most growth here. I have had some really trying experiences, but they have made me more focused and have helped me to rely more on the Lord.

So I am trying to finish the Book of Mormon again by September 30, and im only half way through it. It is so crazy that every time I read it, I get so much more out of it each time. Its interesting comparing to the other paper back copies that I have read and marked. Sorry that I write such boring emails by the way.

Everyone is ready to leave right now and I still haven’t written my email to President yet so I have to go. I love you guys. Pictures will be sent home today! I will talk to you next week all about the new area
Love, Josh

letter Sept. 8 Can you pray for a hurricane, Confirmation of Josh W.

2009-09-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

Thanks for those pictures. Yeah, they all came in pretty big, but I still enjoyed them. You will definitely have to send some more when you get the chance. I am going to be sending some pictures home this week, sorry that it has taken me so long. I was laughing out loud when Ray wrote about him trying to get in the boat and Brett stomping on his fingers and slashing him in the face. That was so much fun haha. I really miss those guys. I am glad you had a good time at the lake. I bet that was also very fun to go up and see Blake’s baby blessing. Is today Chads birthday? I should probably write him. And where did Brett meet this girl? Tell him to wait 7 months before he gets married or I will be exceedingly vexed.

I had a great week this week. I was able to confirm Josh W. this past Sunday which was a great experience. Earlier in the week, Eler Adam and I were a little bit stressed out because after the last few baptisms we have had, we all of a sudden didn’t have any investigators any more, so we had to start at ground zero and just start tracting all day every day again. But as the week went on, we got 5 investigators, 3 of which are now progressing. One of them, who's name is John Lee, just randomly showed up to church with a less-active member and he says he wants to take the lessons and be baptized. So this week ended up being very good. I am a little sad that all this great stuff is going on and that I am going to miss it all, but I am also excited because I would have felt bad leaving Elder Adam with absolutely no one to teach. This area has done so much for me, it is going to be really hard to leave the ward here and all of our recent converts. I don’t know why the Lord has been so good to me, I really don’t deserve any of these awesome things that have been happening.

So August is officially over and I still have not seen a hurricane. I still have till November, but still, im a little worried that I wont get to survive through a hurricane. We aren’t aloud to pray for them, but it doesn’t say anything in the rules about you guys praying for one, so feel free. Even if its just a category 1 or 2. How was the weather out at the lake this week? I don’t even remember what dry weather feels like.

I have no idea where I am going to go next. I am hoping I get sent to the Dothan area which is up in Alabama. I would like to go to Mobil, but from what I hear, it is not the best area for the Church. Elder Ballard came down for a stake conference a few years back and called Mobil the weakest link in Zion, which is kind of sad. An Elder that I served around a couple months back that is now serving in the Mobil Zone said that the whole stake has only 2% home teaching. So anyways, I wont be too sad if I don’t get sent there. I wouldn’t mind staying in this Zone, although it would be nice to have a change in scenery. The only area that I dread going to is FSU Campus over in Tallahassee. Talk about torturing a missionary. School is now in session and if I had to walk around a college campus every day and talk to girls my age, I might just shoot someone.

Thank you for the Post-card you sent me. Are we really going to have a Burnham – Lindsay Lake Powell reunion?I got so excited when you told me that. Anyways, for some reason everyone finished emailing before me so they are all waiting for me to finish and I haven’t emailed anyone else yet. I love you guys so much. Thanks for everything.

Love, Josh

letter Aug, 24 Teaching Josh, I could not be happier right now

2009-09-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

It sounds like you guys had a great week. Have you been able to talk to Ray yet? That is so crazy that you saw Elder Carroll. Yeah we talked a few different times on the phone because we served around all of the same people. He was a pretty crazy missionary from what I hear. Did you talk to him about his mission at all? Im so jealous that you guys all got to go to Lake Powell. I am glad that you had fun.

Our week was very good. We taught Josh Wojtovcz again on Wednesday, and the lesson went amazing. At the end of the lesson we asked him if he had any questions, and he said, “yeah, how do I go about getting baptized?” Elder Adam and I were not expecting that at all, so we are both very excited. He is getting baptized this upcoming Sunday. I could not be any happier than I am right now in my life. Josh, as I told you last week, just got married to an active member of the Church named Annie. They are both 21 years old and are such a cool couple. It has taken Josh 6 years to finally be converted to the gospel. He has been through the lessons before but he always felt like the missionaries were pushing things to hard on him. Anyways, I am pretty sure if you somehow found him on face book, you could just read his conversion story, because he wrote it on his page, and it is pretty cool. All I know is that there is a very real power that comes from reading the Book of Mormon. We asked Josh if he has been searching more in the last couple months than he was before, and maybe that was the reason that he found his answer; but he answered and said no, and said that he had actually been searching less, and that is what confused him. We sat and thought about it for a minute and came to the conclusion found in 2Nephi 32 which talks about planting the seed of faith. For years, Josh had been planting all sorts of seeds but he was disappointed in each of the experiments, so he cast those seeds out. Then he started to Read the Book of Mormon and Pray, which was so much less effort then what he was doing before, and he said some new power immediately entered into his life just from doing these small and simple things. He finally planted the right seed, and it began to grow. I wish I could write better so I could explain everything to you guys. I could not be happier right now.

I cant think of too many other things that happened this week besides a lot of biking and tracting. We had a dinner appointment last night with a family who's kids are home from BYU right now, so I got pretty trunky talking to them about Provo and all the fun things going on there. It actually just got me excited to go to Utah when I get home. I still don’t really know exactly where I want to go yet, but I have plenty of time to think about it. I think I told you last week that I am for sure getting tranfered in 3 weeks. I'm pretty excited to get out and see the rest of the mission. I am hoping I get sent out in the boonies somewhere.
K, well I have to go now. I love you guys. What more do you want me to write in my letters. Do you want more details about everyday activities? Just tell me what you want to hear and I will write more. Sorry if my letters get boring. I love you Mom and Dad! I love you family!

Love, Josh

letter Aug. 18 Westly and Torins baptisms

2009-09-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

Ok sorry if this letter is not very long today, we had to go to a different library beacause ours was closed and the one that we came to only allows us to have 30 minutes on the computers. So im going to try and write as much as I can in the limited time frame that we have.

This week was a very good week. Westley and Torins baptisms both went very well. I was able to confirm westley so that was a good experience. The other really great thing that happened this week is that Reid Stevens (our recent convert from a couple months ago) received the aaronic priesthood yeasterday. We werent able to find too many people this week though beacause there were a lot of storms that came through and kind of threw off our week. Transfers arent for another month, President has pretty much already told me that I am leaving. I don’t have a clue where I am going to get sent. I might find out a little bit more information tomorrow beacaue we havezone conference and president always seems to leak out some information in our interviews. We have a new investigator named Joshua Voytovach who is as golden as you can be. His wife is an active member and he has just started having all these spiritual experiences telling him that he needs to investigate the church. We had an amazing lesson with him last week and we are going back tonight to teach him. Alisha, who was one of our most solid investigators, fell off the face of the map. I think I might have told you already actually. She relapsed last week and has gone back into her old life style so we are pretty sad about that. Keep her in your prayers please. Everyone else is doing great though. It is definetely going to be sad to leave all of them.

Ok I only have 5 minutes left which is really annoying. Anyways, have you heard about any of the storms that are heading up here towards the gulf? We just got hit by a pretty good tropical storm last night and there should be another two decent sized storms coming up here pretty soon. Oh, never mind about the 5 minutes, it just gave me another 15 minute extension.

Yes I agree about going to UVU. I have always loved the feeling up in provo, so I think that is something that I will definetely have to do. I don’t know why I want to go to Utah so bad. I have always been against going there, but I just have a really strong urg to go now. I have also heard a lot of bad things about Salt Lake City actually. I don’t know if I would like it there as much as provo. But at the time, I do need to go to school somewhere else for a little bit before I can even go to UVU. I don’t know, I will give it some more thought in a few months when I really have to stert thinking about it. Can you believe Summer is already almost over? It flew by so fast! I cannot belive that my last summer in Florida is almost done. This on wasn’t even very hot either, which is a bit weird.

Anyways, now I really have to go. I am sorry about these lame computers. I will write a lot next week to make up for it. I love you Mom and Dad!!!

Love, Josh

Letter Aug. 3 This is the most success that I have seen on my mission

2009-09-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

It has been so long since we have been to Lake Powel, I’m way jealous. You will have to take some good pictures for me. I am sorry that I haven’t been too good lately at sending pictures, I will do better. Yeah, I didn’t see the videos on the camera, but I will go back through them and double check. That is really cool that Ray was able to see Brett and Erik. That would be so much fun if Brett got Ray to stay down in Utah. I would love to have both of them there went I go. What day does Ray get home again? I know that it is sometime this month.

Our investigators are doing really well. Westley Smith and Torrin Caldwell are both set to be baptized on August 15. Then we are teaching a 9 year old kid whos parents are active but they never baptized him when he was 8, so he will be baptized very soon. Then we are still working with Alisha Striblan. She is so awesome. She has such a solid testimony of the Book of Mormon and she knows the Church is true. She is down to just 2 cigarettes a day. She has come so far. We gave her a blessing the other day, and there was just so much peace that she would overcome the addiction very quickly. There is another family that we just met recently that seems pretty solid as well. We were tracting a few weeks ago, and we ran into a kid about my age named Ramsee. He is a spitting image of me about 4 years ago, only not as dumb. He seemed really interested in having us come back. So we went back a few days later and he wasn’t there but his girlfriend was, and she also said she was really interested and that she was looking for a church like ours to join. So she said we could come back in a week. So when we came back to talk to Ramsee and his girlfriend Jordan, they were not there, but Ramsees mom was, and she was so golden! She was talking to us all about how Satan was trying to do all he could to tear her family apart because Ramsee was getting in trouble with this girl, and she was just so stressed because she loves her family so much and wants more for Ramsee. So we told her all about Gods plan for our Families and about the Plan of Salvaton and modern day prophets, and she loved every bit of it. She was just so smart and understood everything. So we are excited to start teaching them. As far as the rest of the week went, we just did a lot of tracting, and a lot of less-active visits. I cant think of any specific fun stories right now sorry.

We just got transfer information today. Im going to be staying in Fort Walton for another one! I will have been in this area for 9 months at the end of this transfer. I am very excited to stay, because there are so many good things happening here right now. This is the most success that I have seen on my whole mission, so it would be pretty sad to leave. At the same time though, I would like to see some other parts of the mission. All four of my areas so far have generally been pretty close to each other, so I kind of want some new scenery.
Anyways, sorry I am boring this week, I will try to have some good stories for next week. Mom- I love you! Dad- I love you! I love you Family! Tell people to write me, checking the mail box is the most depressing part of every day haha.
Love, Josh

July 29 Alisha and Reid Stevens

2009-09-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

How are you guys? This week was really good. All the ward members were really great and a lot of them called me to wish me a happy birthday; and some even dropped off cake and presents. Its really nice to be in a ward that takes such good care of us. So that was my last birthday on my mission. That is really weird. It really has just flown by. I cant belive we are already almost in August. I remember last year around this same time saying, I cant believe I have already been out for 4 months! Things are just flying by way to fast.

Transfers are next week, and I still don’t have a clue what is going to happen. I am kind of getting anxious to get out of Fort Walton. I love the people here, but if I am here for another transfer I will have been here for 9 months. I really want to go up into Alabama and see what it is like out there.

So you celebrated the 24th with Chad and Emily? That sounds fun. Are the big fireworks legal in St. George? Chad and Em sent me some great pictures of The Kids in there package. I was also very happy with the ones that you sent on the chip. Thank you so much for that package. I loved everything you get me, especially all the snacks. I thought you were going to put some videos on the chip though, but the pics were still great. I hope you’re still ok with me buying some shoes. I bought a pair of $30 slacks on my last week, and I found a pair of Rock Port shoes for $60 that are really comfortable, but I don’t want to buy them until I get the ok from you, because I didn’t tell you I was going to get slacks.

So as far as the work goes, everything went really well this week. I think I told you last week that we have two baptismal dates set up right now, and we are going to set another one on Wednesday with Alisha who is probably our most solid investigator. When we first started teaching her about 2 months ago she was smoking a pack of cigarettes a day and living in a half way house. Now she is living on her own and is down to 3 cigarettes a day with a sincere desire to quit for good. She has been coming to church every week and has just been eating up everything that we have been teaching her. She carries around a copy of the Book of Mormon in her purse wherever she goes. It is really amazing to see the change that has taken place in her life.

The other miracle the has been happening is with Reid Steven, the one who was just baptized a couple of weeks ago. We were a little worried about him at first and we weren’t sure how solid he would be. Every week he would come to Sacrament in a stained T-shirt and some Jeans and then he would leave right after sacrament, but as soon as he was baptized, everything changed. He has been showing up to church in slacks and a white shirt and tie and has been staying for all 3 hours of church. He never participated much with the youth before, but this last week he went on the youth temple trip and spent 2 days up at the Birmingham Alabama Temple with all the youth in the ward. He wast able to do baptisms, but the temple president let him watch all the baptisms and confirmations in the temple. Reid came back from the trip so fired up and cant wait to receive the aaronic priesthood so that he can go back on the next trip and do baptisms. This was all such a big surprise to me, but I am so excited for him. There has been such a new light about him ever since he received the gift of the Holy Ghost. His best friend Westly Smith is the other one that has a baptismal date right now, and he is also a pretty cool kid. He is going to be baptized on August 8th.

We taught some good lessons this week, and we did a ton of tracting. I really have enjoyed tracting lately, we have run into some really crazy people which makes for really good journal entries. We went tracting on a street called Love Joy on my birthday which I guess a couple years back someone told the missionaries that they weren’t aloud to go on the street anymore because of the gang activity, but I think it has cleaned up a little bit. Anyways, we knocked on some doors down in the projects, and met some really awesome people. One of them was a little old black lady named Virginia White who invited us in to show us her nice clean house. She told us that if we ever got it dirty that she would beat our butts with her cane that she was holding. She was the sweetest old lady. Whenever she would say a swear word she would shake her finger in the air and say, “Its in the bible! It is in the bible! So anyway, we are going back to teach her soon.

I think that is it for the week. Thank you again for the package you sent. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for everything. I love you guys some much. And if you see any of my friends, give them my address and tell them to write me! I love you Mom, I love you Dad! Ill talk to you next week

Love, Josh

letter Aug 31 It will be bitter sweet to leave Ft. Walton

2009-08-31T18:50:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad!

That’s so awesome that Ray and Brett are rooming together. I am really jealous haha. That’s cool that they came over to the house and hung out for a little while. ....
This week was great. Josh W. Was baptized yesterday after only 2 weeks of teaching him. Almost the whole ward came to the baptism yesterday evening, so it was a really good experience. Josh has already set goals to receive the priesthood and to get sealed to his wife Annie in the temple a year from now. I am so excited for them.

As far as other investigators go, we are not teaching too many people right at this time. Everyone that we were teaching in the past few months has either gotten baptized or dropped us. So we are kind of starting at ground zero again trying to find people to teach. We have been knocking on doors for a few hours each day, and we have been finding people, but none of them are willing to keep commitments. It is going to be very bitter-sweet leaving Fort Walton Beach. Bitter, because I will be leaving all of the amazing people that I have been able to teach and the members that helped so much. Sweet, because I have biked down the same exact streets every day for 9 months, and it is going to be nice to have a change of scenery.

As far as weather goes, it doesn’t look lake anything big is going to happen any time soon. It looks like you guys are closer to a hurricane than I am. I hear there is one coming up around Baja California. It’s a bit strange that the pacific is getting more hurricanes than the Atlantic this year.

So, we are almost into September now. Very weird. In about a month I will be hitting 18 months in the mission field which blows my mind. I still feel like I am brand new. This past year and a half has been the best experience of my life. It has changed my life forever. Knowing for myself what truth really is, has made me actually care about what I want to do with my life. It almost makes me sick to my stomach to think what I would have done if I did not serve a mission. And although it will be sad when I eventually get released, I am so excited to have this new pattern of living to try out in my life back home.

Anyways, I gots to go, I still haven’t written anyone back yet so I need to go do that. I love you guys so much. Tell the Family how much I love them.
Love, Josh

Aug 24, 2009 Josh W. commits to baptism

2009-08-24T18:43:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

It sounds like you guys had a great week. Have you been able to talk to Ray yet? That is so crazy that you saw Elder Carroll. Yeah we talked a few different times on the phone because we served around all of the same people. He was a pretty crazy missionary from what I hear. Did you talk to him about his mission at all? Im so jealous that you guys all got to go to Lake Powell. I am glad that you had fun.

So Shawna emailed me and said that the house is officially on the market again. I can’t remember if you guys ever told me that. How much are you listing it for? When it sells, where are you going to move right away? Its going to be so weird for me to come back to a different house, but I think ill survive.

Our week was very good. We taught Josh Wojtovcz again on Wednesday, and the lesson went amazing. At the end of the lesson we asked him if he had any questions, and he said, “yeah, how do I go about getting baptized?” Elder Adam and I were not expecting that at all, so we are both very excited. He is getting baptized this upcoming Sunday. I could not be any happier than I am right now in my life. Josh, as I told you last week, just got married to an active member of the Church named Annie. They are both 21 years old and are such a cool couple. It has taken Josh 6 years to finally be converted to the gospel. He has been through the lessons before but he always felt like the missionaries were pushing things to hard on him. Anyways, I am pretty sure if you somehow found him on face book, you could just read his conversion story, because he wrote it on his page, and it is pretty cool. All I know is that there is a very real power that comes from reading the Book of Mormon. We asked Josh if he has been searching more in the last couple months than he was before, and maybe that was the reason that he found his answer; but he answered and said no, and said that he had actually been searching less, and that is what confused him. We sat and thought about it for a minute and came to the conclusion found in 2Nephi 32 which talks about planting the seed of faith. For years, Josh had been planting all sorts of seeds but he was disappointed in each of the experiments, so he cast those seeds out. Then he started to Read the Book of Mormon and Pray, which was so much less effort then what he was doing before, and he said some new power immediately entered into his life just from doing these small and simple things. He finally planted the right seed, and it began to grow. I wish I could write better so I could explain everything to you guys. I could not be happier right now.

I cant think of too many other things that happened this week besides a lot of biking and tracting. We had a dinner appointment last night with a family whos kids are home from BYU right now, so I got pretty trunky talking to them about Provo and all the fun things going on there. It actually just got me excited to go to Utah when I get home. I still don’t really know exactly where I want to go yet, but I have plenty of time to think about it. I think I told you last week that I am for sure getting tranfered in 3 weeks. Im pretty excited to get out and see the rest of the mission. I am hoping I get sent out in the boonies somewhere.
K, well I have to go now. I love you guys. What more do you want me to write in my letters. Do you want more details about everyday activities? Just tell me what you want to hear and I will write more. Sorry if my letters get boring. I love you Mom and Dad! I love you family!

Love, Josh

Aug 17, 09 Reid Stevens got the aaronic priesthood

2009-08-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

2009-08-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Aug 10, 2009

2009-08-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

How are you guys? That’s cool that your going back out to Utah for that convention. Is it a dental convention? Are you going straight to lake Powell right after that or are you coming home first? Im jealous of all the time you are getting with the kids. Andy sent me a picture of Ryan at the hospital with a huge smile on his face. Ryan is the coolest haha. So Ray gets home this Thursday huh? Is he going to start school right when he gets back or is he going to wait for the fall? I just got an email from him. I think he is wiggin out a little bit.

This week was ok. It actually was quite challenging. I am having a really hard time loving my companion. He just does a lot of things that really get under my skin. I actually talked to President about it this week and President just kind of laughed and said that he completely understands the nature of the beast that I am dealing with. I guess my Elder Adam has sent President some emails that kind of let him know that he is a bit out there so he shared some empathy with me when I talked to him on the phone which actually helped a lot. He told me that I have a crown awaiting me after this transfer, so I am a little nervous/excited about what that means. But anyways, besides that, everything else is going very good. The work is great. Despite the challenges in the companionship, I am actually still very happy. We have two baptisms coming up this Saturday the 15th. Either Elder Adam or I will perform Westley’s Baptism, and then I think Torrin Caldwell will be baptized by his Dad. The cool thing is about Torrin, is that his Dad has been less-active for a couple years now, and none of his brothers or sisters have been baptized. But ever since we have started teaching Torrin, his Dad has been coming back to church and he is now worthy to baptize Torrin. The other cool part is that he just got called yesterday as the new gospel doctrine teacher which completely took me by surprise considering he just barely re-activated. So yeah we are pretty excited about that family. Something else happened yesterday that we are pretty excited about as well. There is a new married couple in our ward, the Voytavach’s. Sister Voytavach is active but her husband is not a member. We had heard that he had taken the lessons before, but was not interested, so we hadn’t really bothered. But yesterday after church, the Bishop wanted us to come into his office and said that he had an investigator for us. So we went in and there was the new married couple, and I guess that had just had a very spiritual experience with the Bishop and Joshua Voytavach now wants to take the lessons. The Bishops goal is to get them sealed in the temple, so that’s what we are shooting for. I am really excited about him.

So anyways, I am sorry to bore you with all of that. We are teaching a lot of really great people right now, and are ward is so great. They have been helping us so much. They are all really excited about missionary work so it has helped us out a ton. President told me that I would be out of here next transfer which makes me a little bit sad because there is just so much going on right now. But at the same time, I think I am ready to get out of Fort Walton after being here for almost 9 months.

Oh yeah, something else really happened this week. We had another tornado touch down here in Fort Wiggity. It was pretty crazy, we were on our way to go tract some street, and when we turned the corner, there was just a wall of black coming at us. So we sat there and were taking pictures as the black clouds started to creep over us, and while we were taking pictures, we noticed that the clouds were forming into these really funky shapes and they started spinning. The wind then started to pick up and we saw a wall of rain coming from a distance, so we decided to head to the church. So, we found out later on that those were funnel clouds and that there was a tornado somewhere in Fort Walton and the alarms at the military base were all going off. So that was a cool experience. I took a great video of it, so I will send that home shortly.

Alrighty, I think im gonna go now. I love you mom, I love you dad. Thank you for everything!

Love, Josh

Aug 3, 09

2009-08-03T18:52:00.001-07:00

Mom and Dad-

It has been so long since we have been to Lake Powel, I’m way jealous. You will have to take some good pictures for me. I am sorry that I haven’t been too good lately at sending pictures, I will do better. Yeah, I didn’t see the videos on the camera, but I will go back through them and double check. That is really cool that Ray was able to see Brett and Erik. That would be so much fun if Brett got Ray to stay down in Utah. I would love to have both of them there went I go. What day does Ray get home again? I know that it is sometime this month.

Our investigators are doing really well. Westley Smith and Torrin Caldwell are both set to be baptized on August 15. Then we are teaching a 9 year old kid whos parents are active but they never baptized him when he was 8, so he will be baptized very soon. Then we are still working with Alisha Striblan. She is so awesome. She has such a solid testimony of the Book of Mormon and she knows the Church is true. She is down to just 2 cigarettes a day. She has come so far. We gave her a blessing the other day, and there was just so much peace that she would overcome the addiction very quickly. There is another family that we just met recently that seems pretty solid as well. We were tracting a few weeks ago, and we ran into a kid about my age named Ramsee. He is a spitting image of me about 4 years ago, only not as dumb. He seemed really interested in having us come back. So we went back a few days later and he wasn’t there but his girlfriend was, and she also said she was really interested and that she was looking for a church like ours to join. So she said we could come back in a week. So when we came back to talk to Ramsee and his girlfriend Jordan, they were not there, but Ramsees mom was, and she was so golden! She was talking to us all about how Satan was trying to do all he could to tear her family apart because Ramsee was getting in trouble with this girl, and she was just so stressed because she loves her family so much and wants more for Ramsee. So we told her all about Gods plan for our Families and about the Plan of Salvaton and modern day prophets, and she loved every bit of it. She was just so smart and understood everything. So we are excited to start teaching them. As far as the rest of the week went, we just did a lot of tracting, and a lot of less-active visits. I cant think of any specific fun stories right now sorry.

We just got transfer information today. Im going to be staying in Fort Walton for another one! I will have been in this area for 9 months at the end of this transfer. I am very excited to stay, because there are so many good things happening here right now. This is the most success that I have seen on my whole mission, so it would be pretty sad to leave. At the same time though, I would like to see some other parts of the mission. All four of my areas so far have generally been pretty close to each other, so I kind of want some new scenery. Elder Adam is staying here as well. I get pretty frustrated with him sometimes, but that is my own pride. He is a hard worker, but we are just opposites in almost everything besides the work. Its been a good growing experience for me though, and this transfer will be another one, but I will survive haha.

Anyways, sorry I am boring this week, I will try to have some good stories for next week. Mom- I love you! Dad- I love you! I love you Family! Tell people to write me, checking the mail box is the most depressing part of every day haha.
Love, Josh

July 27, 2009

2009-07-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

How are you guys? This week was really good. All the ward members were really great and a lot of them called me to wish me a happy birthday; and some even dropped off cake and presents. Its really nice to be in a ward that takes such good care of us. So that was my last birthday on my mission. That is really weird. It really has just flown by. I cant belive we are already almost in August. I remember last year around this same time saying, I cant believe I have already been out for 4 months! Things are just flying by way to fast.

Transfers are next week, and I still don’t have a clue what is going to happen. I am kind of getting anxious to get out of Fort Walton. I love the people here, but if I am here for another transfer I will have been here for 9 months. I really want to go up into Alabama and see what it is like out there. Another reason is that the companion I have right now is a pretty rough one. The work is going good, I just struggle with patience from time to time. I have to go on a trade off with some one in my district at least once a transfer, so I conveniently chose the trade off day to be on my Birthday so that I had someone to talk to all day haha, I know that’s bad.

So you celebrated the 24th with Chad and Emily? That sounds fun. Are the big fireworks legal in St. George? Chad and Em sent me some great pictures of The Kids in there package. I was also very happy with the ones that you sent on the chip. Thank you so much for that package. I loved everything you get me, especially all the snacks. I thought you were going to put some videos on the chip though, but the pics were still great. I hope you’re still ok with me buying some shoes. I bought a pair of $30 slacks on my last week, and I found a pair of Rock Port shoes for $60 that are really comfortable, but I don’t want to buy them until I get the ok from you, because I didn’t tell you I was going to get slacks.

So as far as the work goes, everything went really well this week. I think I told you last week that we have two baptismal dates set up right now, and we are going to set another one on Wednesday with Alisha who is probably our most solid investigator. When we first started teaching her about 2 months ago she was smoking a pack of cigarettes a day and living in a half way house. Now she is living on her own and is down to 3 cigarettes a day with a sincere desire to quit for good. She has been coming to church every week and has just been eating up everything that we have been teaching her. She carries around a copy of the Book of Mormon in her purse wherever she goes. It is really amazing to see the change that has taken place in her life.

The other miracle the has been happening is with Reid Steven, the one who was just baptized a couple of weeks ago. We were a little worried about him at first and we weren’t sure how solid he would be. Every week he would come to Sacrament in a stained T-shirt and some Jeans and then he would leave right after sacrament, but as soon as he was baptized, everything changed. He has been showing up to church in slacks and a white shirt and tie and has been staying for all 3 hours of church. He never participated much with the youth before, but this last week he went on the youth temple trip and spent 2 days up at the Birmingham Alabama Temple with all the youth in the ward. He wast able to do baptisms, but the temple president let him watch all the baptisms and confirmations in the temple. Reid came back from the trip so fired up and cant wait to receive the aaronic priesthood so that he can go back on the next trip and do baptisms. This was all such a big surprise to me, but I am so excited for him. There has been such a new light about him ever since he received the gift of the Holy Ghost. His best friend Westly Smith is the other one that has a baptismal date right now, and he is also a pretty cool kid. He is going to be baptized on August 8th.

We taught some good lessons this week, and we did a ton of tracting. I really have enjoyed tracting lately, we have run into some really crazy people which makes for really good journal entries. We went tracting on a street called Love Joy on my birthday which I guess a couple years back someone told the missionaries that they weren’t aloud to go on the street anymore because of the gang activity, but I think it has cleaned up a little bit. Anyways, we knocked on some doors down in the projects, and met some really awesome people. One of them was a little old black lady named Virginia White who invited us in to show us her nice clean house. She told us that if we ever got it dirty that she would beat our butts with her cane that she was holding. She was the sweetest old lady. Whenever she would say a swear word she would shake her finger in the air and say, “Its in the bible! It is in the bible! So anyway, we are going back to teach her soon.

I think that is it for the week. Thank you again for the package you sent. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for everything. I love you guys some much. And if you see any of my friends, give them my address and tell them to write me! I love you Mom, I love you Dad! Ill talk to you next week

Love, Josh

July 20, 2009

2009-07-20T16:26:00.000-07:00

July 20 2009
Emails made me so happy today. Shawna sent me some hilarious pictures of the kids. My favorite one was the poo coming out of im guessing Kenna’s diaper. I laughed pretty hard at that one. Anyways, yeah you should just send me the chip, I and I could just send you back another one. I would love to see all the pictures that you took at the lake. As far as the birthday thing goes, there is a mall down here, so I think I will just go pick some shoes out from kohl’s or Dillard’s or something. Im fine on shirts, I just need to get three of them tailored which will cost about $18 for all of them. Im fine on pants as well. I like ties. Im sorry that I stink at giving you ideas! As far as snacks go, I like 100% wheat wheat thins, I like chewy granola bars, you know I love cereal. Im sorry I am so bad at this. I am sure I will love anything you send me

Our investigators are doing really good right now. We set to baptismal dates this week, both of which will be on August 8th. They are both really solid people. Westley Smith, who is 15, is one of them and we have been teaching him for about a month now. And the other one is a kid named Torin Caldwell who is 14. We have taught him twice and he is a really smart kid and has a good grasp on everything we have taught so far. We are teaching some other really quality people right now that I am pretty excited about. We taught a lot of good lessons this week and did a lot of tracting as well. Things are going pretty well with Elder Adam, I am learning quite a bit of patience which is a good thing haha. Transfers are in two weeks, and I really don’t have a clue whats going to happen. There are a lot of good things happening right now in this area so I don’t know if President will make any changes, but to tell you the truth, I would kind of like a change. Ive been in Fort Walton for 7 months now, and I kinda just want to see some more of the mission. But, if im here for one more, I would be fine with that, because like I said there are some good things happening.

So you’re looking in to buying this place out in Utah huh? I think that would be really cool. Is it a lot cheaper than our house? It would be nice having you guys out there because I am pretty sure that is where I am going to be for a while. Im curious to see how Brett likes the lds business college, maybe I will end up doing the same thing. You said they don’t even look at your high school GPA right? Oh yeah, do you know when Jeff Larson is getting home from his mission? Isn’t that pretty soon? I know Ray has like less than a month left, which really blows my mind. I think he said he is planning on going back up to Idaho for school.

Nothing too exciting happened this week. We had good success, but there isn’t any specifics that are too out of the ordinary. There was a cool experience on Friday where a guy pulled over in is car, stopped us, and told us to come over and talk to him. He was crying and saying that he had really messed up and wanted us to come over and prey with him this week. So we are going over there this week to teach and pray with him. We have little experiences like that throughout every week and I should start writing them down so I can remember them on Mondays when I email.

I still feel bad for not giving you any ideas for my birthday. I like I reallycandy and snacks and all that stuff. I trust your judgement like Charleston Chews, but I think they would melt before they got here. I like Socks. I like fine point pens. Im sorry I am so boring.

Anyways, I love you guys so much. Thank you for your emails every week, they really do make my weeks go so much better. Tell the family that I love them and if you see any of the kids, give them a hug and a kiss for me. I love you Mom, I love you!

Dad I love you!

Love, Josh

July 13, 2009

2009-07-13T16:28:00.000-07:00

July 13

Mom and Dad-

I hope you don’t feel bad about the whole email thing. I knew that you didn’t just forget. Yeah I checked it right before I signed off and I still didn’t get it, but I really didn’t mind. I knew that that meant I would just get double the emails to read this week.

So a lot has happened in the last couple weeks. I am so excited about Blake. I will be home well before his first birthday so I will get to be there for the fun ages. I loved that picture you sent of Parker and Kenna. I love those two. The other pictures were great too. Casey and Brett still look like themselves. I had no idea that Dan Henderson was a patient of Andy’s, that is so crazy! I heard about the fight from a member in our ward who loves MMA so he always fills me in on the latest fights.

Training is going alright. Elder Adam struggles a bit with his confidence and has some social issues, but he has a really good heart and always tries his best. Although we don’t exactly mesh like Elder Gooch and I, we still are working really hard together so I am still happy. Besides, if I ever get really irritated or anything, I have two of the other Elders in the apartment to help me out. Theres not too much more that I have to do as the D.L. I have to give trainings every Tuesday for 60-90 min. and I have to call the sisters every night, and report our Districts numbers for goals and actual every week to the Zone Leaders. So its really not that much more work. Really the hardest part is training, which still isn’t even that bad.

We had a baptism this week by the way. I baptized Reid Stevens. It was a pretty stressful day. Reid is a really big kid, so we had him try on a jump suit about a week ago just to make sure it would fit him. So he put it on half way, and then said that it would work. We asked him if he was sure because he didn’t put it on all the way, and he said he was positive. So anyways, the baptism was at 3pm on Saturday, and Reid shows up at 2:50pm and when he tries on the Jump Suit, it doesn’t fit at all. So me and the Bishopric are making phone calls and stressing out trying to find something that works. By the time 3:30pm rolls around, we decided to have him put on half of the jumpsuit, and then where a white tuxedo shirt that he ran back home and grabbed. So it ended up working out, and everything was very peaceful after he was baptized, so yeah it was still a great day. Reid’s friends all came to the baptism, and one of them went up to the bishop afterward and told him that he had never had such strong feelings in his like than watching that ordinance, So we are going to start teaching him. We are also teaching another one of Reids friends who wants to be baptized as soon as possible, so we are excited about him as well. We are still teaching Alisha Striblan. She was smoking a pack a day and is now down to a quarter of a pack a day. She had a baptismal date for July 18, but we are going to push it back to the beging of August probably. So there are some great things happening here in Fort Walton.

Yes my Birthday is coming up, but no, you don’t have to get me anything. I have already spent too much on the home card. I have had all sorts of bike problems and I had to by that pair of pants. Both of the lights on my bike didn’t work any more because I crashed really hard last week, so I had to spend like $35 to get new lights. The Crash was pretty sweet. I was looking behind me to see if we missed a turn, and my front tire went into a curd and it mad my whole front wheel turn sideways causing me my bike to go from 15 mph to a sudden stop in a split second which then caused me to do a front flip with my bike still connected to my legs. So I laid on the ground for a second, and when I looked up, I realized we were in front of a crouded resteraunt and there were a lot of really cute girls outside who saw the whole thing. I impressed them with my skills I assume. So anyways, that is why I had to buy new lights. I could use some things for my birthday, but I just don’t want to make you get anything. For instance, my shoes are falling apart, so I could probably use some new shoes. And I need to get 3 of my shirts hemmed which will be about $21. We have a mall in our area and I found some shoes that would work well, I just don’t want to keep sucking up your money. Some little things you could send would be some good socks, some snack foods, a new tooth brush and some sensidine tooth paste, I don’t know. That is all really boring stuff. How about this, I will think of things that I really need today, and I will write a list and mail it to you, because I cant think of anything right now. A cool silk tie would be nice, but that isn’t a necessity.

Anyways, I miss you guys, and I love you so much. Tell katey to get pregenant. It will be sort of like the count Down baby and Ill get home right before she has it. That was random. So yeah I love you Mom, I love you Dad! I love you everyone else who is reading this!

Love, Josh

July 6, 2009

2009-07-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

July 6

Mom and Dad-

Blake is here!! Sooo good! Is he healthy and everything? I am so excited. Did everything go well? Those pictures you sent are great. I didn’t get an email from you this week, im guessing it just didn’t go through or something. How was St. George? Were you guys at the lake at all this week? I got an email from Brett saying that he did some wakeboarding behind our boat. He seems to be doing really good. Is he still pretty wierded out about being home? He is going to have one of his friends back very soon so I bet that will be good for him.

This was a pretty good week. Ive been working harder for the last week or 2 than I have my whole mission. Training this new Elder is pretty tough. You can tell he was pretty sheltered back home and his social skills are awkward. He has a really hard time talking to people, so I figured the best way to get over that is by knocking on doors for 6 hours a day. I feel a little bad sometimes because he really fumbles up his words and gets pretty frustrated when he tries to talk to anybody. I am thinking I might be leaving next transfer, or at least that is what I am kind of hoping for. The whole district leader thing isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Training is actually a lot more difficult.

I don’t have too many cool stories to tell. I guess there are a couple funny ones. We were knocking on some doors earlier in the week, and this old man came out side and told us to come over and talk him. His name was Evangelist Coon. He told this long story about how when he was our age, he was caught up in a sect and that the Spirit fell on him and saved him from this cult. He then told us that we were trapped just like he was. He told us that us that he had just had a revival and healed a bunch of people, so I read to him part of Mathew 7 and told him that I he worked those miracles by the power of Satan which he didn’t seem too happy about. So all of a sudden he jerked his whole body back and convulsed as if he was filled with the Spirit, and he reached out to grab my hand to save me. I jumped back as well, because I thought that he might posses me or something, so we just left while he continued to yell strange things at us until we were down the street a ways. So that was a pretty fun experience. The other story isn’t as cool, Just another old guy that flagged us down while we were biking and told us that the Apocalypse was going to happen on June 23, 2012. He had some other arguments as well but I wont bring them up. I realized that I get a little too heated sometimes when people try to bash. I just find a little too much joy sometimes in proving people wrong with the bible, which I know is wrong. I finished the Book of Mormon again, and im starting a new copy. I don’t know what I want to mark in it this time though. Wow, im just rambling, sorry.

So, not too much more to say. I am just so excited for Chad and Emily. They have their own little family now. How is everyone else doing? I really need to start writing letters to everyone. Can you send me all of their addresses? I love you guys so much. Thank you for the pictures! I love you mom, I love you dad!

Love, Josh

June 29, 2009

2009-06-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

June 29

Mom and Dad-
Hey guys! That’s great news that Chad passed his exams. I bet he just loves life now. Im glad to here all is well back home. Are Casey and all them home for the Summer or something? I know Brett is just getting started with school isn’t he?

So this transfer is going to be one of those really difficult ones. Im training Elder Adam who I can tell is going to try my patience. Its ok though, Its good to go through experiences like these. He is a good missionary, I think he was just really sheltered back home and he has a hard time taking advice from anyone. It will be a good transfer though, I prayed for humility before transfers so I guess this is the Lords way of answering that prayer haha. I have never worked harder than I have this week though. We found 7 new people to teach so that was good. We knocked on doors for a good 4-6 hours each day. Reed Stevens committed to be baptized, but we still aren’t too sure how ready he is yet. Some people just don’t get that baptism is a life long commitment, not just something you do to be clean for a while and then go back to normal life. We had some good lessons this week with Cindy Love and Alisha Striblan. Alisha is the other Lady that has a baptismal date for July 18. She is a little more solid, but still has a smoking issue so we are still trying to help her with that.

The weather cooled down a little bit this week. It was up to 110 by last Monday, but its back down to the low 90’s now so it’s a little bit nicer to proselyte in. It has been bone dry lately, not a single storm. How has the weather out there been? Have you been out to the Lake at all lately?

My studies have been really good lately. I have focused a lot on all the elements that make up Faith lately. Reading Elder Bednar’s talk “Seek Learning by Faith” opened my eyes to what Faith really is, but I still really don’t know anything. Another really great talk you should read is “Moral Agency” by Elder Christofferson.

Well, im sorry I don’t have a ton to write about this week. Everyone wants to go get food right now so I have to go. I love you guys so much. I will have more to talk about next week. I love you Mom, I love you Dad! I love you Family!
Love, Josh

June 22, 2009

2009-06-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

June 22

Mom and Dad-

That’s really good news that Chad passed his exam. That has to feel so good to have that out of the way. Brett has been dating Jamie Linford? That is pretty random. Happy late Fathers day Dad!! Sounds like it was a good one. I miss those kids. So it seems like you guys are putting some pretty serious thought into St George, when would that all happen if you did decide to go up there? That business college in Salt Lake seems pretty cool. Ill definitely put some thought into that.

We just got transfer information in today. Elder Gooch is leaving to go be a Zone Leader up in Alabama. I am staying here and will be a trainer and district leader. The trainer part will be pretty fun I think, but im not so sure about the district leader part, but we will see how it goes. Im going to miss Elder Gooch a lot. It has been the best 3 tranfers of my whole mission. But I am really glad to be staying here. At the end of this transfer I will have almost been here in Fort Wiggity for 8 months!

The weather out here has reached unbearable. Today it is 98 degrees and that’s not including the heat index which usually shoots it up 10 degrees. Its pretty cool though, when we come back in from working all day, you can ring the sweat out of your garments. It hasn’t rained in a about a week, which is really unusual.

This week was good, but we had a really hard time finding new investigators. We tracted a bunch, but really didn’t have to much success in that, so we will just keep trying this week. Hopefully me and the new missionary will get off to a good start so that the work will continue to increase here. The one thing that was actually really good this week is that 7 investigators just randomly showed up to church yesterday. Usually we only get 2 or 3, so that was really surprising. Oh yeah, another pretty cool thing happened; we set a baptismal date with an investigator of ours named Alisha Striblan. We have been teaching her for about a month now at a member’s house and she is really solid. Our appointment this last Tuesday went really well. She said that she hadn’t received an answer yet, but that she felt good whenever she prayed, so we tried an experiment and we all knelt and prayed with her in the lesson. Each person in the room said a short prayer asking to know if that the Book of Mormon Is true, and then she prayed. When it we were all finished, we asked her if she felt those same feelings that she felt before, and she said yes. We explained to her how the spirit works and eventual she pretty much said, “well what do I need to do to get baptized?” So we are excited about that.

We finished the lessons with Reed, and he says he wants to be baptized, but were just not sure if he is ready. He threw a huge fit at Church yesterday when his friend who is a member wanted tried to get him to stay for all 3 hours of church. He usually just stays for sacrament and then leaves. He was really upset yesterday and we could just tell hes not ready yet.

So what are you guys going to do for the 4th of July? Anything super exciting? I don’t think they want us proselyting to much that evening, so our ward mission leader is going to take us on base with his family and watch the firework show. Time is just flying by way too fast. I remember last summer with Elder Taylor like is was yesterday. Really weird. Well, I think I better go. A member is taking us bowling in about an hour and I still need to email President. I love you Mom, I love you Dad! Thank you so much for your emails! I love you family!

Love, Josh

Ft. Walton June 09

2009-06-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

2009-06-15T19:15:00.001-07:00

Week of June 15

2009-06-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

That’s really cool that everyone likes this dammeron valley place. Are you guys putting some pretty serious thought into it? I got the LDS business college papers in the mail. I haven’t had a chance to look at them yet. Ill look over them today and try not to get too trunky haha. So Chad is still having to take a bunch of tests? I thought that was all over with when he finished the schooling. Tell me how that goes.

Thank You for the pictures that you sent also. I loved seeing Sadie and Charlie Murphy. I bet that was pretty crazy having all those dogs on the beach. Have you guys been skiing at all on the new boat? I bet the wake makes it pretty difficult. How is the weather out there? It is getting ridiculously hot over here. Its been in the mid 90’s all week, which would be ok in California, but throw in 80-90% humidity with that, and its pretty gross.

This week has been pretty average. We had 4 or 5 really good lessons. Weve been teaching this lady named Alisha for the passed couple weeks who has been coming to church and says that she wants to be baptized when she gets an answer to her prayers. Shes a normal person too, so that’s good. When I say normal, I mean that many investigators we find out here have a lot of weird quarks about them which makes things a little bit frustrating at times, but they also make great stories so its all good. We were struggling to hit our goal for new investigators this week so we ended up doing a ton of tracting. A lot of people don’t like tracting, but I actually kind of enjoy it. Its pretty fun getting to so see many different types of people. Its also really fun just thinking of different approaches you could use and how you can tie it back to the restoration. It also makes it nice to have a companion that you actually like.

Im pretty sure that Elder Gooch is the only one leaving. In our apartment right now is me, Elder Gooch, Elder Rosenlund, and Elder Jackson. Elders Gooch and Jackson are for sure leaving, which leaves me and Elder Rosenlund. President has already told Elder Rosenlund that he is training, so I have no idea whats happening with me as far as any positions, I just know that I am staying.

We are having a district conference with President Summerhays this Tuesday which will be interesting. Usually we do Zone conferences, but this month President wanted to just do it with individual districts, so it will be more one on one. I always get so much out of the conferences that we have with President, so I’m really excited. Elder Gooch and I are going to ask him if he could come to a lesson with Alisha right after the meeting, so I hope it works.
Are you still going to send Brett’s talk? We aren’t really supposed to go on any other sites, so it would probably be better if you sent it.

Last night we went to a dinner appointment with second ward at the Maresh’s. This is probably one of the coolest families ever. It is a part member family that the 2nd ward missionaries ran into a while back. Brother Maresh was a less active member and was unordained, and the rest of his family aren’t members. So anyways, he just got they priesthood and he is going to baptize his family on Friday, so Elder Gooch and I needed to go to this dinner apointment so that he could interview them for baptism. So anyways, Bother Maresh collects all different kinds of hot sauces, and it got pretty brutal last night. He had this sauce that was pure habenero and Chile pepper extract. So we were one upping eachother all night and toward the end of the night, we were just dunking all our food in this stuff. I have never had anything so hot in my life. I couldn’t sleep until around 1am this morning because of stomach pains and ever since I woke up, ive been pooping hand grenades, so I don’t think I will do that again.

Anyways, sorry there isn’t really anything else too exciting to tell you. I had a good week, but I cant think of too many exciting details. Im glad to hear all is well back home. I love you Mom! I love you Dad! I love you Family!

Love, Josh

June 8 Visit with Elder Bednar

2009-06-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

This week has been so great. It was so amazing getting trained by Elder Bednar for 3 hours! We got there 2 hours early so we could get front row seats in the chapel. I have seen him speak in different settings before, but it has never been like this. We were 10 ft away from an apostle who had prayed and received specific instruction for us as. Before he said anything, he said for us to not write down anything that he said. He told us that what he said really didn’t even matter, but that each of us would receive specific tailored revelation; a lot of which would would have nothing to do with what he was even saying. It was so true, I found myself sitting there many times watching him, but I didn’t even know what he was saying because there was just a flow of knowledge coming in from somewhere else, it was pretty amazing. The whole training was about how we need to seek learning by faith and how we need to help others do the same. If you read his talk, “Seek learning by Faith,” you will know a lot of what he talked to us about. He talked a lot about how we are all agents to either act, or be acted upon, and that Faith is acting and doing, not just sitting and listening. He taught us how we need to not just act upon our investigators but rather help them to be agents and act for themselves by helping them to make and keep commitments. I think his coolest point was that there are 3 different substances that make up Faith: 1.) Faith as the assuarance of things hoped for 2.) Faith is the eveidence of things not seen which are true. 3.) Faith is the principle of action in all intelligent beings. As we take a few steps into the dark and act, we have an assurance that heavenly Father will illuminate the way, and as we are walking, we look back and see that he has in fact illuminated the way, which is the evidence of things that are not seen, and as we see the evidence, that gives us more assuarance and the cycle just keeps going. You should really read the talk because I probably just murdered everything he said. Anyways, the 3 hours with Elder Bedinar gave me such great perspective on my mission, and in my life. We were all able to shake his hand afterward which was pretty neat. I haven’t washed my hand since, and I probably never will.

The rest of our week went really well. We exceeded all of the goals that we set for ourselves so that was good. Oh yeah, I got hit by a car on Wednesday, so I was pretty stoked about that. We were going pretty fast down the side walk facing the traffic, and this big black truck pulled out trying to turn right, and I could have sworn the lady saw me because it was a cross walk and she stopped before she turned, so I kept going, and so did she. Nothing too bad happened. It knocked me about 5 ft off my back, but I landed on my feet and jogged it off. The Wheel and Chain got knocked out of place on my bike, but we fixed that. So don’t worry, my bike is ok! I just received a couple minor flesh wounds so im ok too. I wish I could see the look on moms face right now. On Sunday we had 3 unexpected investigators show up to church and they actually stayed for the investigators class after sacrament, so we were very excited about that. We are teaching a couple of solid people right now. Cindy Love is still doing really well, and Reed also. We started teaching a part member family recently and the Dad is the non member. He seems to be really interested. He came to Church yesterday wearing nice slackes, a white button down collared shirt and a tie. Things are going really good lately for us.

Im kinda bummed that Elder Gooch is leaving next transfer. Everyone in our apartment is so cool. We have such a good time, but everyone works really hard. This has been the greatest time of my life. But there will be more great companions an experiences in the future so it will be fine.

We got in a pretty good bash towards the beginning of the week. Some guy was just telling us how the book of Mormon is false because there were no horses in the Americas and that DNA tests show that the American Indians don’t have any Israelite blood in them. We sort of tore into this guy and we both felt bad afterward because he really didn’t have a leg to stand on. It is fun to bash for a little bit, because it keeps you polished on the doctrines, but it just doesn’t feel good and the spirit is never there.

I haven’t ever heard of that school either, it sounds pretty interesting. Brett is going there you say? I will have to check it out. He just sent me an email. I cant believe he is already dating again. Crazy. Im excited to hear his homecoming talk. Im probably not allowed to listen to it on the computer, so yeah just send it on a cd or something.

Well that’s pretty much all I have for you guys, I hope I didn’t bore you. The rest of the week was all just tracting and visiting, so I wont bore you with all that. I love you both so much. And I love everyone else too! Thank you so much for everything. Your all in my prayers! I love you Mom, I love you Dad!

Love, Josh

June 1

2009-06-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

June 1
Mom and Dad-

Hey guys! Sorry that you haven’t gotten those pictures yet. They are in the mail as of today, so you should be getting them within the next few days. Those pictures of Brett at the airport are great. He really good. So he is thinking of going up to Idaho? Ray said that he is probably going to do that as well. I don’t really know what I am going to do yet. I think I will give myself another 6 months before I really start thinking about it. I don’t know if they will fumble my return date around at all, I just know that that is the release date on my ministerial certificate. As far as im concerned, that is the exact date when I leave because that is a Wednesday which is transfer day.

It seems like we have just been filtering through all of our investigators. Last week and this week we have been dropped by a lot of them, but we have also found some promising ones as well. We had 4 investigators at church yesterday which was really cool. We are going to start teaching the Caldwells. The Dad is a less active member, but his kids have not been baptized. Torren is the main one that we are working on. He is 14 years old. The other two girls are 12 and 10. So it will be really cool if we can get them all baptized and get the Dad reactivated again. Things are going good with Cindy. She has not been to church yet which is a bummer, but we are working on it. Reed Stevens comes to Church every Sunday and has been reading and praying, so we are hoping to set a date with him really soon. This week has been really good for the most part. We have been doing a lot more teaching and we have been able to get members to come to most of our teaching appointments with us, things have been going quite smoothly lately. Last night, I was about to use the bathroom, and as I was about to sit down, I saw 3 huge crawfish in our toilet. So I opened the 2nd ward missionaries door and through them at them. Long story short, a war broke out in our apartment, and lets just say that they had a whole bag of crawfish just waiting for Elder Gooch and I. Anyways, we have a lot of cleaning up to do today.

So you guys were able to hang with Katey and Keagan for a little bit? That’s cool. I cant wait to ride Chile. Oh yeah, as we were tracting a couple days ago, we ran into this lady who had a ton of dogs in her yard, two of which were two big Great Danes. One of them was a female and had the same exact markings as Sadie. The owner said that she was about 14 years old, but she was still as playful as ever. The only difference is that she didn’t have her ears cropped. The owner let us pet her and play with her a little bit and it made my day.

I am so excited for this Saturday to go and see Elder Bednar. The Zone leaders are going to spend the night on Friday night, and then we are going to drive up to Pensacola at 6 in the morning and hopefully get there by 7 or 730. It doesn’t start until 9am, but we want to get front row seats in the chapel. If we end up getting there two hours early, we can always just study I guess. It will be fun to go see two of my old areas. We will be driving through Navarre, where I was trained; and then we will be going to Fox Run for the conference which was my second area. It is actually really weird how close I have stayed to all my former areas. I am within and hour and a half driving distance to each of my last areas which isn’t really normal. Im pretty sure I will get to go to Alabama sooner or later. Pretty much half of our mission is in Alabama. But at a will most likely be here for at least another two to three months. President told Elder Gooch that he would be leaving this next transfer most likely to go zone leader, so I will be staying. What worries me is that he is our district leader right now, and the only other person staying this next transfer is Elder Rosenlund who is going to be training. So Im hoping one of the Sisters in our district will be district leader or something.

My black shows are officially starting to fall apart. The Rubber is starting to come apart from the shoe, and part of the bottom has torn off. Do I have permission to by a cheap pair of dress shoes from Ross?

Anyways, I have to go now. Thank you for those pictures. Sorry I didn’t take too many. There are maybe 20 or so that I sent home. I love you Mom! I love you Dad! Thank you so much for everything. I miss you and love you!

Love, Josh

May 26, 2009 Preparing for Elder Bednar's visit

2009-05-26T16:40:00.000-07:00

May 26

Mom and Dad-

That is so cool that you guys all went to the airport for Brett. Was he really pretty quiet around you guys? That’s a little strange haha. Do you know if Dan got a chance to record his homecoming talk, or has that not even happened yet? That is so cool that he is back. Ray only has a couple months left, and then I will be around 8 months after him. Ray really wants me to go to BYU Idaho with him, but im really not sure what I want to do yet. What does Brett have planned to do as far as school goes? Thanks for the pictures by the way, I enjoyed them. I have been taking a lot of pictures lately and I am definitely planning on sending them home early this week. I just need to buy some padded envelopes and then I will send the chip home.

This last week was a little tough to get too much work done because of all the rain we had. There was a weird little tropical storm type thing that was over us for about three days. We also had Zone conference which made it sort of difficult to do anything that day. A couple of our investigators that we thought had some good potential ended up dropping us later on in the week, so that was a little bit disappointing, but it will all work out. We still had some good stuff happen. We did some tracting and found a couple of new people to teach. On Sunday, a new part member family moved in and the husband, who is a non member, said that he wants to start coming to the investigator class every Sunday. We have been having some cool experiences with random people just randomely showing up and wanting to be taught. I think I might have told you about the lady named Casey that we are starting to teach, or maybe I didn’t, I don’t know. Anyways, this lady has been investigating the church for over a year now and she has read both the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon cover to cover. There are some members in our ward that are selling puppies, and this lady (Casey) called to buy one and a conversation about the Church sprang up somehow, and now she wants to take the lessons. Some of these people have just fallen into our laps, its pretty amazing.

We have been doing a lot of knocking on doors lately. We want to start working more with the active members and help them to invite their friends and neighbors because it seriously works so much better that way. We have a lot of investigators right now, but they are pretty much all from tracting, so they don’t really have any connection with the Church members and that makes it difficult. Its been fun though, just trying to think of all the different ways we can find people. It is getting so hot out here. The other night, the humidity was up to 93% and we aren’t even in June yet. The Weather is supposedly supposed to be crazy this year. They are predicting over 16 named storms to be coming in this area, so that should be fun. I don’t know where they come up with those estimates though.

Im so excited for Elder Bednar to come to our mission. We get him for about 3 hours. Im scared though, because I think that we might have to role play in front of him, and I might poo myself if that happens. Elder Bednar told our mission to prepare by studying two of his talks, “Ask in Faith,” and “Seek Learning by Faith.” I definitely recommend you guys reading “Seek Learning by Faith.” I really got a lot out of it.

So I really don’t know what I want to do as far as school. Are you guys stressing out about where to move? I think, as much as I would love to have a couple months off when I get back, it would probably be best to get right back into school while im still fresh. If you’re still in California at that time, I would probably just go to FJC. But I really don’t know. I have 10 months to think about it, so I think ill be ok. Around this time President Summerhays starts asking us about school, so I will try to get some opinions from him. Eveytime I have an interview with him, he tells me that I have a very bright future ahead of me, so that gives me some hope haha. Oh yeah, my release date is April 15.

Well, I think I have to go now, I love you guys so much. Thank you for your emails every week:) I love you Mom, I love you Dad! Tell the Family I love them!
Love, Josh

May 18, 2009 This transfers off to an awesome start!

2009-05-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad-

It sounds like you guys had a fun time out there with Tracey and Dan. Is their new place pretty nice? Those sea doos sound like they are pretty fun, and it seems like every time you go to the lake, the water is perfect! I Bet Dad really liked that Star Trek movie, everyone out here says that it is really good, and I know how Dad loves Star Trek. I didn’t get the pictures of the Horses that you sent, I only got the one of Parker. That’s awesome that you were able to see them again. Does Brett really come home this Thursday? That is really weird! I bet Dan and Tracey couldn’t stop talking about it. That is going to be so much fun.

We had a pretty good week this week. It started to get really hot, but then the last couple of days have been a little bit cooler so we will see how the next week goes. We have been finding some real quality people lately. We are just starting to teach this lady named Cindy who has been looking for a church to go to. For the last month or two she has been settling into a Presbyterian Church, but she said she is still searching. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and shes been reading it, and we had a really good lesson with her this past Friday. We also had another really good lesson with that young part member family I told you about on the Phone, the Murphy’s. Kay Murphy is the non member and she took Friday lesson really well. She has been coming to church as well, so we are excited for her.

We realized last night that we were one short on our goal that we set for new investigators for the week, so we picked out a street on the map and went tracting. The first door that we knocked on, this lady named Maria came to the door, and told us to come in. She said that she had been looking around for the right church for her, and that she was tired of getting lied to by so many different pastures and ministers. She was praying that she would get receive some extra help in her life, and so she got really excited when we came to the door. We told her all about the Book of Mormon, and she was very interested and wanted us to stay and read with her. The spirit was so strong, it was really neat. She said she felt really good about it, so we are going back to teach her again on Sunday. We had a couple other lessons this week that went really well, so we were happy about how this week went.

The Spanish Elders got transferred this wee, so the second ward elders are moving in to the apartment next door, which means we get a two story apartment all to ourselves for the next six weeks! Its going to be so nice. Its really fun having four missionaries in an apartment, but its really easy to loose focus also, so itll be a nice change.

I don’t have too much more to tell you about this week. It was just a really great week. This transfer is off to an awesome start. We have seen some definite miracles this week. Investigators that we haven’t talked to in months have randomely just popped up and are interested again, random people calling members out of the blue and wanting to take the discussions, and just all sorts of really cool things. Im pretty excited to be here for another five weeks. Well, I hope you guys have a great week I love you Mom, I love you Dad! Sorry I didn’t have to much to write about this week, ill do better next week, I promise. I love you Everyone!!

Love, Josh

May 11, 2009 Great talking to you guys yesterday

2009-05-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad
It was so great talking to you guys yesterday. Everyone sounds like they are doing so good. I loved hearing Sadie in the back round fighting with Murph Durph. So I cant really think of any other exciting stories. We just got transfer information and we are definitely staying for one more transfer so that’s good. Its supposed to rain all week long so hopefully it doesn’t keep us in for to long.

Im sorry this is going to be such a short letter! I told you everything yesterday, and now im all out. Thank you so much for the money. Thank you for everything I love you guys so much. I promise to send pictures soon. I know ive been really bad at that. I love you Mom, I love you Dad! I will have more for you next week

Love, Josh

May 4, 2009 Tornado watch, 5 new people to teach, eating healthy

2009-05-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

May 4

Mom and Dad-

So yeah im pretty excited to call home this Sunday. We willHey guys pretty much have as much time as we want because weekends are free so the mission isn’t worried about the cost too much. As far as time goes, I really don’t know yet. We have Church from 11-2, but that mean when I get out, you will just be getting out of sacrament. So maybe I will have elder Gooch call first or something. Don’t miss church though, or like you said at least go to sacrament. Ill probably call in the morning right before we get picked for for PEC. So that will probably be around 7am for you guys, and then I will call after depending on when Elder Gooch is calling.

Slap Brett when he gets home for me, he has sent me a one sentence e-mail every week telling me how much time he has left haha. That’s going to be fun for the webs to have him up at the lake. I cant believe Ashley has a boyfriend but she wants to go up to the lake with them. I really hope Brett isn’t all for that. Will you tape record his homecoming talk for me please? I would really like to here it. Do you know exactly when Ray is getting home?

There is a Tornado Watch right now in Fort Walton. I just looked on the weather sight and it said that for the next 2 hours, the conditions are favorable for tornados. But we have already been here for a while, so I I love the Weather outthink we are going to bike back soon anyways here, but you can definitely tell that summer is coming back. It has been getting pretty humid lately.

This week was another good week for us. We found 5 people to teach, most of which we found through tracting. We had lessons with Reed and Faren. The lesson with Faren was pretty interesting. He is really smart and knows the Bible as well as anyone else in the South. He has agreed with us on pretty much every point concerning the apostacy and the Restoration, but once we started teaching the plan of salvation, he had some problems. He has a really big problem with the doctrine of our relationship with God. When we taught him the pre-earth life, he disagreed. So we read out of Revalations about how Michael the Arch Angel and his angels fought against the dragon and his. We then explained to him that we were those spirits. He has a big problem with the thought that God has any type of body and that He, his Angels, and us are all part of the same human family. I don’t know how anybody can here that and not feel so good about it! It just makes so much sence. I got pretty worked up in that lesson and I probably shouldn’t have. It just frustrates me that people harden themselves against such great knowledge. On Friday we met this super cool less-active member named John Chapman who back in the 90’s was the #3 kick boxer in the world. We didn’t really believe him at first, but then he showed us a magazine and some newspaper clippings with him on them. Oh yeah, so we were tracting the other day, and we ran into thi lady in a trailor park who looked really depressed. We talked to her for a little bit, and she told us how she has a three month old baby and that her house just got renovated and so she and her boyfriend and their baby have no place to live. She started to cry and said she wasnt interested in our message at that time but that she wanted us to pray for her. Well, the next night, we were around that area, and a man with a stroller walked by us and said that his girlfriend told him that she talked to two missionaries the day before and that she felt good about it. So we started to talk to him, and he said he was looking for work and that we could teach him (David) and Shawna (the girl) and that they needed all the spiritual help they could get. So we found out that Shawna works at the bowling alley right by our place and we went in and gave her our number and said that we were going to ask around the ward and try to get David a job. She almost broke down in tears. I guess they have lived together for 9 years, but could never afford a marriage, so were going to help them and try and see if the Bishop can work with them so that they can be an official family. We are really excited for them. Theres another guyPlease pray that he will be able to find a job named Alfred Page that we are working with who is less-active but really misses the church and wants to come back. So weve set some goals with him to where we can get him to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. Anyways, we are having a great time working with some of these different people.

That’s pretty cool that you guys both got iphones. Are they complicated at all? I know some of the more hi tech phones that yall have gotten in the past have been a bit iffy. Im sure that you guys have heard of this whole swine flu thing, is it really as bad as everybody is saying? I heard that Its pretty bad in California. Im not too worried about it.

Eating healthy has been great. Pretty much all we have been eating all week is raw fruits, vegetables, and grains. I have had tons more energy, and really excellent poo’s. Seriously, it all just seems to fall right out, its pretty amazing. I feel like a new man. I still don’t know why you guys never told me how good all these different vegetables are. Its like all my life I have been missing out! If only I knew! Jeez.

So anyways, im probably going to go now, its pouring down rain out side, but I think I will survive. I love you guys so much. I cant wait for Sunday. For right now, I don’t know exactly what time, but I have all day, so don’t worry about missing church. For now, all I know for sure is that I will call you guys early in the morning before you go to They don’t really tell us who wechurch, and we can set up a time then can and cant call, but im assuming on mothers day, it will just be family. I love you Mom! I love you Dad! Ill talk to you this Sunday!

Love, Josh

April 27, 2009 "He said I was going to have an amazing wife!"

2009-04-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Apr 27

Mom and Dad-

Hey guys:0 That is so great to here that the Brady’s are all doing so well. So Tanna and Ray are both coming home on the same day? That’s pretty cool. I love the pictures that you have been sending through e-mail. Shawna has been sending some too. Julie and Ryan look so old! Is what grade is Ryan in right now? I really should write Shawna and ask her, I have been really bad about writing her. Actually, I have been really bad at writing everyone in the family, I’m sorry everyone! I’ll do better! Brett is coming home in three weeks? Wow, I cant believe that. He just wrote me an email last week, and he sounds pretty trunky haha. He has permission to use my wakeboard Dad, just tell him Actually, its up to you if he uses it, because I didn’tto be careful even pay for it. That will be fun to have one of the guys back. You will have to tell me all about his homecoming talk. It would be really I wonder how muchcool if you could record it and send it out to me he’s changed. Do you know if Ashley is still active, or if they are still planning on getting married? Tell him to at least wait until I get back. I don’t want all of my best friends to get married before I get home!

So this week was another great week. We had Zone Conference on Friday which always seems to give me the extra boost that I need. I cant wait for you guys to meet President Summerhays, he is just such an amazing person. Yeah, that will definitely be fun for us to come back out and visit all of the areas out here. There are some awesome families that I would love for you to meet.

Elder Gooch and I are still having a blast together. I have been learning and growing so much over the past few months, and the best part is that I asked President if he was going to be moving us at transfers in a few weeks and he said that we would both probably be staying here, so im excited about that. We did a lot of less-active work this week. One of the guys that’s we found was Brother Robertson. He was so cool. He was probably in his 80’s and is a high priest. He was once David O. McKay’s home teacher, and he told us all kinds of great stories about how he would race the Prophet at stop signs in their old Cadillac’s. We also found three new people to teach who all seem pretty solid. We were pretty busy this week so we didn’t have the opportunity to go back to the Buddhist temple, but we have plans to go eat lunch over their this next Saturday. Reed is still set for May 9th. We had some good lessons this week with a couplePlease pray for him different investigators, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

So you guys are thinking about getting a place in Utah, but still renting in California? Would you be spending more or less on that then the house payment right now? I’m just curious. I’m excited that you guys have all these different ideas, I think you need the open spaces, rather than the congested city life. Have you still been able to save some money with the whole horse and boat thing happening? I don’t want you guys to worry about me, I want you to do whats convenient for you. It really wouldn’t bother me that bad if I came home to a different ward. I would probably just go visit all of them.

My studies have been pretty cool lately. Elder Gooch and I have some really fun companion studies. Ive started reading the Doctrine and Covenants at night now and marking them the same that I did with the Book of Mormon. Its really cool to read the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants together, because both of them provide such a powerful witness that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet, and that all of what we have in our lives is true. Its going to be so much fun when I can talk about all this stuff with you guys. I mean, companion study is fun out here and everything, but I think it will be so much better studying and sharing insights with you guys. I think for sure I want to live at home for a couple months before I move anywhere else. Sorry, im probably making you guys trunky and I still have a year left. Im so happy out here though. I feel like I have already gained so much experience out here just in one year, so im excited to have another one to grow even more. In Zone Conference, President sealed a promise on us that whatever amount of sacrifice we put in to our service, that we would receive an hundred fold in return in this lifetime. It was a pretty amazing promise. He keeps telling me in my interviews what an amazing wife I am going to have haha! I thought maybe he just told that to everybody, but I asked a couple of my companions, and they said he has never mentioned anything like that to them, so I guess my wife will be pretty cool according to President

So is there anything cool going on in the home ward? Any new move ins or move outs? Who is planning on going on there mission next? I love you guys. I think im going to go now. Im going to a produce store after im done here and we are going to by tons of fruits, vegetables, and grains, and were going to go on a week long health food diet and see if it gives us anymore energy through out the week. Elder Gooch is mainly just excited for the incredible poo’s that its going to give us, which is definitely going to be a plus. Well, I love you Mom, I love you Dad, I will be calling in a little less than two weeks. I don’t know if I will be calling Robbie, if I did, it could only be for a minute, because its MOTHERS day not call everyone day haha. So I dunno, we will see. Anyways, I love you all

Love, Josh

Another Great Week

2009-04-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-
Wow thanks for that super long email I love reading all about what is going on back home. That is probably one of the coolest things ever that Andy is now making grills for MMA fighters. Is that just a small little side thing or is he going to make that part of his practice? Its sounds like you guys had a fun week. Do you just go to Church up at the Overton ward?
This week was another great week. We reached all of the goals that we set for the last two weeks so that’s pretty cool. The appointments with those kids that we met didn’t end up working out. We went and knocked on the door, and an older lady answered and said, were Christians, and I don’t think my daughter understood what you were giving her. So yeah, that was pretty lame, but we did have some other really good appointments that did go through. We met with a man named Farencox on Saturday (probably the coolest first name ever) and we had a great lesson on the Restoration with him. He is a really neat man, who hasn’t affiliated himself with any church because he does not want to be deceived. He says that he just reads the bible and relies on the spirit for all of his knowledge. Its pretty interesting, because he has so many of the same beliefs as us, because he hasn’t been tainted with all these other crazy doctrines from other churches. So we have high hopes for him. Reed is our other investigator who is doing really well. Were going to set a baptismal date with him tomorrow for May 9th.
Friday was probably the best day this week. We met a less-active lady from our Ward named Nikki, who was baptized a couple years back. Well, Nikki is from Thailand and although she is a member now, she still goes to the Buddhist temple every week and eats lunch with the Monks there. So she ended up inviting us to the Buddhist temple to eat Thai-food with these monks who just came from Thailand last year whos names were Su-Tom and Su-Chet. It was so cool to eat with them and to see their culture and what they were all about. We had a Thai Book of Mormon that we were going to give to the Monks, but it turns out that they already had one. They have heard about the whole Restoration from previous missionaries. They told us that we could come back every week and eat lunch with them in their temple so we are pretty excited about that. The food was the best food that I have had in a long time. Su-Tom actually invited us out to Thailand with him when we get off our missions, but im guessing that might be a little too expensive.
K, so I found this awesome Sermon by Joeseph Smith called the King Follet Sermon. If you guys have not read it, type it in on google and read it! It is the most incredible discourse ever! Joseph Smith Smith uses the bible to prove that God was once a man like one of us and that we can become as he is. Seriously, you both need to read it, consider it a Homework assignment haha. I really want to talk to you about it next week in emails, or maybe even when I call home in about 3 weeks Ive had some really interesting studies lately. Im reading the Book of Mormon for the most part in the Mornings, and Now ive started to read the Doctrine and Covenents at night when were done with everything. I forgot how cool that Book is. Its all just such a great testimony builder that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet.
After im done emailing, The Hensleys from our ward are taking us to Destin to go fishing off the Jetties. I guess the fishing out here is amazing. Last time they went they caught 12 Red Fish in 3 hours that each weighed about 40 pounds, so im really excited to go. Ill take lots of pictures for you.Ill make suere to send some home this week Sorry I don’t have as much to write about as you guys did, I had a good week, I just cant really remember all the specifics. We did a lot of tracting. I should start writing down all of the funny little tracting stories that happen every day in my planner so that I can tell you. Anyways, im gonna go now. I love you both so much. Thank you for everything. I love you Mom, I love you Dad!
Love, Josh

Tornado Dodging

2009-04-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

Hey Mom and Dad-
We got to the library a little later than usual today. There were Tornado warnings all throughout Fort Walton and Destine today so we were stuck in for a while. A tornado warning actually means that there is a for sure chance that a tornado is going to touch down whereas a tornado watch is more just like saying it’s a possibility. It was really crazy this morning, we went outside before we even heard there were supposed to be tornados, and within 30 seconds the temperature dropped like 10 degrees and the clouds were all spinning like crazy above us, so that kinda freaked us out. And then after that, the tornado sirens started going off down at the base, so then we really got freaked out and went inside. I have never seen storms like these in my life, its actually really exciting. So anyways, when the rain stopped, we decided to bike over here to the library, although there is still a tornado watch until 5pm. We got pretty soaked coming over here, so that was fun. Don’t worry though, even if a tornado comes, I wore my helmet so I think ill be ok.
That’s so scary about parker, im glad hes ok now. Thatll be so much fun to go up there and see them in St. George. Dad got a whole week off? Is that for Easter Break? That’s way cool. Easter was pretty fun. We went over to a members home and we got president Summerhays’s permission to watch “The Robe.” Have you ever heard of it? It’s a great movie from the 50’s about one of the Roman soldiers who Crucified Christ, and the whole movie is from his perspective and how he turns his life around and ends up believing in Christ and fights for Christianity. Its really good, you should watch it. I know how Dad likes his old 50’s movies haha. Watching it actually totally made me think of you Dad. So that’s pretty much all we did on Sunday night. A lot of really cool things happened during the day though. We have been having a pretty hard time getting people to come to church lately, so we always do our best to invite our investigators and less-active members to come, but we don’t usually get our hopes up too much. On Sunday at church though, we had two non-members that just showed up out of the blue after saying they weren’t going to be able to make it, and about 4 less-active members showed up as well. So we had some really awesome things happen on Easter.
The rest of the week was really good too. We have been specifically praying this week as a companionship that the Lord would loosen our tongues and speak through us as we try and find people to teach, and it has been really amazing what He has been doing for us. We found ourselves saying things to people while tracting that we haven’t normally said before. We had one specific experience while tracting the other day. We knocked on this door, and this teenage girl answered the door with two guys about our age standing behind her. They had some loud rap music playing in the back round, and they all seemed to be a little hung over haha. So we talked to them for a little bit, and the girl said her parents were out of town and that they had the house to themselves. Elder Gooch asked if we could come in and share a message, and they actually let us in. When we got in the house, one of the guys was like, “ go turn off the music and lets listen to what they have to say.” So they all sat down and Elder Gooch and I started to bear our testimonies of the Restored Gospel and how the Book of Mormon had Changed our lives. The spirit was so strong and they all listened to what we had to say. One of the guys(Chase) seemed really fascinated with everything that was said and had a completely different countenance then when we first opened the door. They all said that we could come back next Saturday and teach them, so that was a really cool experience. We found 6 new investigators to teach this week, and they all seem pretty solid. Its really cool how much of a difference it makes in the work when prayer is involved. Prayer is everything, life would be a waste of time without it.
We have a lesson tonight with Reid, who is one of our more solid investigators, so hopefully that will go well. Were going to watch a 20 minute restoration DVD with him and then go into a little more depth on it for him. This upcoming week should be a good one, we have a few different teaching appointments set up and we have a long list of less-active names to go visit as well.
Thank you so much for that package you sent me. Ive already eaten all the Samoas. I cant believe I have already been out for a year, it has flown by so fast. I have such mixed feelings about how fast it flies by out here. Yeah, its going to be so great to see everyone back home, and get started with the rest of my life and everything, but at the same time, I love it way to much out here to ever leave. This is definitely the high point of my mission right now, I love it so much.
Well, I think I have to go now, the storm outside seemed to die down a bit so I think were going to get out of here before it picks up again. The family is always in my prayers, I love you guys so much! I get to call you in less than a month! I love you Mom! I love you Dad! Love, Josh

General Conference Weekend

2009-04-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

That’s so cool that Chad and Emily are finally done and ready to go. They must be so excited! That’s way cool about the Webbs and there new lake house too. Brett will enjoy that. Are they getting pretty excited to have him back? I just got an email from him saying that he has 6 weeks left! That is so weird. So you want me to go to school in St. George? I don’t know, ive really been looking forward to going out to the provo area but who knows, maybe I will change my mind within the next year. Besides, I will have some time to decide when I get back as well because before I go anywhere, I really just want to go community college at FJC or something along those lines. Anyways, things have been good here. Thank you so much for that blender! You didn’t buy it brand new did you? I really hope not, that would make me feel really bad. But seriously, thank you so much.

This week was pretty average. The storms out here made it really hard to do anything. There were thunderstorms for about three days straight so we couldn’t go out at all in that time. It was kind of annoying because the same thing happened last week. It made it difficult to reach our goals for the week because of General Conference as well. How good was General Conference?! I hope you recorded the first session back home, it was really, really good. My favorite talk of them all was probably Elder Holland’s talk on the Atonement. The stories that President Monson tells are always good. Oh and Elder Perry’s talk on member missionary work was really good too. I loved how he related it to that lost sheep on the hill side, and how the sheep probably wouldn’t listen to the rescue team, but if the Sheppard were there, the sheep would most likely follow his voice. Usually Christ is the Sheppard in these stories, but I loved it how he said that the members are the Sheppard to these lost sheep, because in reality, the members are the ones who have the non-member friends, neighbors, and co-workers. These people aren’t going to listen to strangers, but they will listen to you guys. I don’t know, I just thought he really hit home with that.

Something really weird happened this week. K, so a bunch of new missionaries just got out here, and we have a new sister in our district who’s name is sister Hall. Every night Elder Gooch has to make a phone call to the sisters and make sure they are in safe. So on Wednesday, he made the call and the new sister answered and asked if she could talk to me. So he hands the phone to me, and I was kind of confused. Anyways, I took the phone and Sister Hall was like, “Elder Burnham this is Jen Hall, do you remember me? I was like What the crap?! I went to institute with this girl and we were totally friends with eachother. We hung out every once in a while! Really weird. I had no idea she was even planning on going on a mission, so it really wierded me out when that happened. Such a small world.

I really don’t have to much more to say about this week. Like I said, we weren’t able to do that much. You wanted to know more about Elder Gooch? He just way cool, theres not too much more to say. Hes really dorky, but just so fun and easy to get along with. We have a lot of the same interests about music and all that stuff. And we both enjoy working hard so that works out good. I don’t know what to say, he just a really great companion.

I finished the Book of Mormon this last week, so im starting a new one and Marking in 5 different colors the Gospel of Christ. I just got done with 2Nephi. The last few chapters in 2Nephi are so good! You should go back and read them. It explains The Doctrine of Christ so Simply. I was talking to Elder Goch about it this morning, and its really cool how in just1 or two verses in 2Nephi 31, it says the entire Gospel, Faith, Repentance, baptism, Gift of the H.G., and ETTE. In the bible, to these basic simple doctrines aren’t ever even found all on the same page. Nephi makes it so simple of the exact steps we need to take to be saved. Another thing that’s really cool, is how in 31:10, Christ says, “Follow thou me.” And Nephi says, “how can we follow Christ save we be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? Some people out here are so dumb! Christ tells his disciples multiple times in the bible “follow thou me.” We cant follow Him by just saying “I believe” like so many of the Baptists out here believe. I completely undersatand how they can get so lost though, because the bible can make such simple doctrines so complicated at times. Sorry, that was a weird tangent, I just cant explain enough how cool the Book of Mormon is.

How is Dads Practice coming along? Is the economy effecting you guys in a negative way at all? I don’t really get the chance to hear anything that’s going on so im always in the dark about how everythings going in the outside world. Are you still doing the Teris Toys business Mom? Has anyone been wakeboarding yet this season? I bet the weather out there is starting to be really nice, it is here. Anyways, Im going to go now. I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything Your emails and your prayers help me so much. I love you Mom! I love you Dad!

Love, Josh

March 22, 2009 Think I'll ask the Lord if I can stay another transfer with Elder Gooch

2009-03-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad-

That’s so cool that you are spending all this time with Chad, Em, and Parker. Im so jealous of you guys! Im glad that you had a fun week. I got your package in the mail. Thank you so much! Did you see how much was on the Card you sent me? You really didn’t have to do that. But thank you. And thank you for those pictures too. Chile looks great I was a little worried when you said that you didn’t get my email. I felt so bad when that happened last time. Shawna sent me some pictures of the kids at knots, Julie looks so old! Ryan is still looking like his crazy self haha. And Kenna is getting huge too! I love the pictures that all you guys send out, thank you so much. Im working on taking more pictures so that you don’t have to wait as long as last time to get some. I took some pretty good ones lately. There are these bright green lizards out here that are pretty easy to catch, and if you put anything in front of their mouths, they will bite it and not let go. So we had some fun clamping them to our noses and ears and whatnot. I love it out here in the spring. The Weather is so nice. I guess I just don’t really remember last spring very well cuz all my attention was focused on not getting killed by E. Honzic. Its definitely starting to heat up though. At least I only have to go through one more, and hopefully I will get to ride a hurricane or something.

We had a pretty good week this week. We went and visited a lot of Part Member families and set up some appointments to go back and talk with them. We also met a couple of really cool less-active members that have a lot of good potential for coming back.We also did a lot of tracting and found 3 people to teach from it so that was way cool. We had Lesson with Emily (the girl we brought the cheesecake to) and that went really well. We had a member come with us and it worked out perfectly. She fed us all dinner before the lesson and we had a really good time. She is pretty solid. We taught her the Restoration and for the most part she accepted it pretty well. Were really getting excited for everything that’s been happening lately here in Fort Walton. There was nothing here when I first got here except for damage to fix from previous missionaries, but were finally starting to see success. I really hope that I stay here for another transfer with Elder Gooch. I might ask president if he can ask the Lord if I can stay.

We met some kid while we were tracting who said that we could come back the next day, and E. Goch and I both felt like it was goiig to be a bash for some reason. So we went back the next day, and it pretty much was. The Kid was probably about 19 and he was asked us what we believed, so we told him. He then went on to tell us how there was no Savior and that there was no way to no if there was any savior. He said he believed in God, but that everything else about Christ and the Ressurection and all that wasn’t true. Right away we just started to bear testimony of the Fall and how all of us are fallen and if it were not for the Atonement, all of us would be lost. It was really cool, because at first, this guy was swearing at us and acting all tough, but after we finished talking, it seemed like his countenance totally changed and he was actually willing to listen. He still wouldn’t let us come inside and talk to him, but he took a pamphlet and said that he would read it. So that was kind of a neat experience.

Well, im happy all is well back home. All is well over here. Im having so much fun with Elder Gooch. Sorry I only write about the missionary stuff, I should probably start writing about some of the fun stuff too. Send some more pictures of the lake and all that good stuff. I love you guys so much, thank you for everything that you have done for me. A party for the year mark sounds great! Its on the 9th of next month. But I probably wont be at my own party haha. Oh well. Anyways, I have to go, I love you Mom! I love you Dad! Talk to ya next week
Love,
E. Josh

2009-03-18T23:41:00.001-07:00

Joy in the journey

2009-03-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad: ...It was such a good week! I am so happy right now with Elder Gooch. I think he's probably my favorite companion so far. I thought we were going to be sick for a lot longer, but we got better, and so that's good. We did a lot of less-active and part-member work tis week with a lot of tracting thrown in between. We worked hard all week and found a lot of very nice members who actually showed some interest in coming back to church after not coming for years. We also found three new investigators who we are pretty excited about. We had such a great lesson with the Millers. We asked them if they would be baptized and they said yes! I have been so happy so far this transfer. Heavenly Father has been blessing me with more than I could ask for It seems like anything that I have been praying for lately, He has just been giving me freely. I have been finding true "joy in the journey" as President Monson would say. So anyways, life is good! Its starting to warm up out here again. Its so weird to be coming up on April. There really isn't any spring out here, it pretty much just turns right into summer. Well, I think I'm gonna go now. I love you guys so much. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. Love, Elder Joshua Burnham

March 9, 2009 Committed the Millers to baptism

2009-03-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad,
Ok so this is going to be pretty short. We are in Destin for our P-day right now on our bikes haha! We couldnt find a library so we are in an office max right now doing our emails on the laptops. But dont worry, i am for sure writing you a letter and sending it in the mail today with some good pictures.

So this week has been great. We both feel 100% better and we have been working really hard. We had an excellent lesson with the Millers and committed them both to baptism in which they accapted! We are so excited about them. We found 3 new investigators this week and we did a lot of tracting. Ive been so happy all week long. Ive come to realize how much i love my mission. Their isnt a single part of it that i do not enjoy.

Anyways, i really have to go, but i promise you im going to send a nice long letter out today with those pictures so dont worry. Mom- I love you! Dad- I love you!!!

Love, Elder Joshua Burnham

P.s.- Ill tell you all about our day today in destin in the letter. It is so amazing here!

March 2, 2009 So how cool is the Book of Mormon?

2009-03-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

March 2
Mom and Dad-

This week was another pretty slow week. Our whole apartment was coughing up a lung all week. I started getting better around Thursday, but Elder Gooch was still really sick all the rest of the week until yesterday. The doctor prescribed us with some antibiotics so we are both feeling much better now. So yeah not to much happened this week as far as finding people to teach. We did get the chance to go and visit the Millers though. He is still very sick but they are both still very interested in coming to church. We just taught them a little bit of the Restoration, and when we told him about modern Prophets he said, “ well sure, I would definitely have to agree with that.” So we will see how that goes. Were going to teach them the Plan of Salvation this next Thursday and I think it will go over well considering how old they both are and how sick he is.

Although I was pretty sick all week, I was still able to get some stuff done. So downstairs in our apartment, we have a map that is about 4ft by 6 ft. It’s a huge map. Its probably a little bigger than the one I sent you pictures of in Crestview. I had the Clerk print me off a current Ward Roster and I had the Bishop Mark every Less-active member and part member in the ward. In our ward there are about 375 members, about 120 are active. So I went out and bough a ton of these different colored see through tabs that you can write on, then I took the Roster, and one by one tagged each active, less-active and Part member family on that giant map of ours. Its all color coded as well, so all the Pink tabs are less-active, all the yellows are Part members and all the Greens are Active. So now just by looking at the Map, we know where every single member on our Roster lives. It makes it so much easier to plan out routes throughout the day and it makes it so you don’t have all this wasted time just looking around for places. It also helps of course to have a GPS haha. But still, it was a fun project to work on while I was sick because it made it so I wasn’t just laying around doing nothing.

So the doctor told us to buy a humidifier, which would be like $20. He said it would help with our coughs. But instead of doing that, everynight this week after planning, all four of us in the apartment get into our towels, bring stools into the bathroom, close the door, and turn the shower on as hot as it gets. It is probably the most amazing thing ever! The bathroom turns into a giant steam room. For some reason the water in our apartment gets ridiculously hot so its perfect. We didn’t realize how gay it probably looked until the Spanish missionaries came over wondering where we all were, and then heard some talking in the bathroom, and then opened the door to see 4 sweaty dudes in towels in a steemy bathroom. It was pretty funny haha.

So you got the new horse huh? That’s really cool. How far away is she from our house? I bet the kinds will think that is the coolest thing ever. I remember growing up, when ever I was at the other Burnhams house, we would go across the street and feed carrots to the horses there. I always thought that was so cool, so im sure the kids will think the same.

SO I got an e-mail from Chad today. It sounds like he is getting really excited. I am so happy for them. That is just going to feel so good to be done with school and to actually be working.

So how cool is the Book of Mormom? I am just going to keep bringing it up every week because it is so amazing. There are so many promises to us In that book. I am at the end of the War chapters right now reading about the 2,060 strippling sons of Helaman. That Book is just so full of good. I cant explain it. It has just come to life so much more since marking in the new way we learned. Just in reading the war chapters over the past few days, my testimony has increased so much of power of this Book in the conversion procces. Ive felt like I can almost here the voices crying from the dust as ive been readind about all of these wars in the ancient world. I Love it! I love being a missionary. President summerhays said something really cool in a recent Zone conference about missionary work. He said, “ If you don’t like missionary work, you better start liking it, because one day your bound to have a mission statement that goes something like, This is My Work and My Glory, to bring to pass the Immortality and Eternal life of Man.” So we all better really start enjoying missionary work haha! So Good. Anyways, I love you both so much. I am so happy that you guys are happy. Thank you for everything. I love you Mom! I love you Dad! I love you Family! You are all in my prayers every night and day!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Feb. 24. Elder Gooch is awesome!

2009-02-25T22:46:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad

This week has been a great week. Elder Gooch is awesome! He is one of the funniest guys I have ever met. He is 6’4” and ways about 160lbs! He is so goofy, but I love him. He is a very hard worker so im really excited for this transfer. The First and second day he got here were great. On Friday we planned a route of less actives part members, and referrals that we received, which eventually led us down to the beach which I haven't had a chance to see yet. The beach here is amazing! Snow white sand and clear blue water with nobody on the beach for miles! The sun was going down right then so we got some good pictures to send home. We actually found one really nice fisherman that we talked to for a while on the beach, but he wasn’t really interested so that was a bummer. We ended up finding a new investigator that night anyways though so that was good. The only bad thing about this week is that I started getting a sore throat on Tuesday, and by the time Elder Gooch got her it turned into a pretty solid cold/ sore throat, and starting Friday Morning, I got everyone sick in our apartment! And one of the Spanish Elders caught it as well. I felt really bad. I talked to a Doctor and he said it was a viral flew. So from Friday night till now, we have all been pretty sick and havnt really been able to do much. But other than that, this week has been great. Ive had some extra time to study the Book of Mormon so that’s been one good thing about being sick I guess.

Our apartment great, I love it. The new Spanish Elders are pretty hard workers and now everyone in our apartment is as well. Its a lot easier to keep my focus now, but at the same time, we have a good balance of fun. Me and The Greenie in our apartment (Elder Rosenlund) wrestled last night for about 20 minutes before I submitted him with a guillotine choke, so that was pretty fun. The only crappy thing about this transfer is that Spanish doesn’t have a car anymore, so we don’t have a ride on P-days to do our shopping or e-mails. So it looks really goofy, six missionaries riding bikes in shirts and ties wile trying to hold on to groceries. Good stuff haha.

I cant believe Spring time is already coming. I don’t know where time is going! Its so weird. When is mothers day? This next phone call will already be the third one and then I only have one left! Crazy. So the webs bought that other trailer huh? That’s pretty cool. I bet Brett will love that. When does he get home again? Its pretty soon isn’t it?

Oh yeah before I forget, they had to cancel like 40 of the missionaries mission cards out here because of some scam thing going on, and mine happened to be one of them, so yeah if it seems like ive been spending a little more on the home card lately, that is why. They said last week that we should be getting new ones in the mail this week so yeah I should be getting it soon so don’t worry. Today will probably be the last day that I spend any money on the home card because I need some groceries.

So yeah this e-mail is a pretty boring one since we were all pretty sick this week, sorry This next week will be much better. I am so excited for this transfer. Oh yeah, did you get a chance to look up that talk? Its really good, I think you would really enjoy it. Well I have to go email president. I love you Mom! I love you dad! Thank you for everything!
Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Feb. 17 New companion coming!

2009-02-25T22:39:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad!

Is that your horse that you sent me a picture of?? You guys are crazy! Haha! That’s so much fun. I had no idea you were still all in to horses. That’s awesome. So did dad get work off for a few days to drive out with Chad? That is so exciting that they are finally done out there! And I cant believe they are having another boy! So cool. Are they pretty excited about that? How far along is Em? Ill probably only have like 6 months of my mission left by the time the baby is born, pretty crazy.

Well we just found out about transfers today. Elder Cornwell is getting transferred, and Elder Gooch is coming in. Ive heard a lot about Elder Gooch and im actually really excited. I hear that he is a very hard worker, but is also hilarious. So im excited to see how this next transfer goes. Everyone that has served with him or around him has said that I will love serving with him. ... Heavenly Father has definitely heard my prayers and is answering them constantly. ...Another think that helped so much was just not being idle at all. Anytime there has been any free time at all, ive just picked up the Book of Mormon. It has helped me so much to keep my thoughts out here and not in the world. I love that book so much. It is true, that’s all there is to it.

So yeah it was way fun going over to the Chapmans the other night. I think that was Sunday night that we went over there. They are definitely when of the more well off people in the Ward if you know what I mean. They fed us the best meal that I have had so far on my mission. Do you remember that Steak house that we ate at in New York? I think it was called Francescos? Was that in New York? Anyways, The steaks that they cooked us were comparable to those ones! I could seriously cut it with my fork. These steaks were seriously two inches thick. I still cant get over how good that meal was. I hope they have us over more often. I guess Kevin is coming home in July? So weird. Then I think Ray will be done in August right? That is ridiculous. That went by so fast. I will pretty much hit my year mark at the end of this next transfer. I don’t know where all the time has gone.

As far as the millers go, we haven't been able to get a hold of them for about a week, so as soon as Cornwell leaves, we will bike up there and check up on them. Everyone else is doing really good. Julianna is super active and has been living with our ward mission leaders family for the past month now. I don’t know how Jenny is doing. We need President Summerhays’s approval to call recent converts if they are girls around our age, so I haven't gotten the chance to talk to her since I left Crestview. From what I here, her parents still wont let her go to church as long as she is living under their roof, but she is trying to save up money to move out and she has been meeting with the bishop and paying fast offerings and tithes so hopefully all will work out.

Well, Im probably going to go now, I have a lot of cleaning to do before the new comp gets here. Thank you soooo much for the valentines’ package! The Samoas were gone In the very same day that I opened the package haha. Is there anything yall want me to start telling you in my letters to make them more interesting? I feel like my letters are so bland. K well I love you guys I am so excited for everything that is going on with you guys, with Chad coming home, and Katey getting a good job, and Dads practice doing well, im just happy for you guys. Mom- I love you! Dad- I love you! Please tell me if there is anything more that you want me to start writing about. I LOVE YALL!!!!!
Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Feb. 10 The Book of Mormon is what converts.

2009-02-25T22:26:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

That stinks that this was kind of a bland week for yall. It was a pretty good week for us. The last couple weeks have actually been great for finding people to teach because we have been contacting a ton of referrals that we've gotten. We have found 5 or 6 really promising investigators recently, two of them being the millers that I mentioned last week. We actually haven’t seen them in a few days because the last time we went over there, George was really sick so we re-scheduled for next week. We haven’t been teaching to many people lately, our time has mainly been spent out looking for people to teach. But the way its been going lately, were probably going to be doing a lot of teaching here shortly.

The one thing that has been really cool lately has been my Book of Mormon studies. I told you a little about how president is having us read the Book of Mormon over again, and how we are marking it in a different way. Using a paper back copy of the B of M, we have been marking in one color, the promises and blessings that the Lord has in store for us, and then in another color, we mark what we have to do to attain that blessing. I have gotten so much more out of my studies just from looking for specific things in the Book of Mormon. Its really cool because you can do it with any topic. For instance, when im done with this one, im going to label it, What we have to do for the Lords Promises and Blessings. Then I will get another paper back copy and start looking specifically for specific Gospel principals like faith or Repentance. Then when you finish that one you can label it accordingly. So after a while you will have read the Book of Mormon 5 or 6 times, and you will have 5 or 6 copies specifically marked for certain subjects. It is something that has really helped me to be more motivated to read it. I seriously love that book. The Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel are really the only two things I study now. Yeah, the bible is great and all, but the Book of Mormon is what converts. There is just something so different when you read it. There is a real power behind it that cannot be denied, I love it! Sorry for boring you, you get excited over pretty boring things as a missionary I guess.

So today is my 10 month mark. Im finally starting to feel like im not so new anymore, its kind of a good feeling. I don’t know where all the time has gone. At the same time though, it feels like so much stuff has happened back home, its really weird.

Well, sorry I don’t have to much to say this time around. Im sorry my letters aren’t very exciting, ill try hard to be exciting throughout the week so that I have stuff to write about. I just hope you know how much I love you guys. I cant wait to see all of our family again. Life is amazing. The Gospel has blessed our family so much. Anyways, Mom- I love you with all my heart. Dad- I love you with all my heart. Tell the family I love them too! Ill talk to yall next week
Love,
ElderJoshua Burnham

Feb. 2, 2008 The Cinnamon Challenge

2009-02-25T22:22:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

Hey guys That’s cool that yall had some time out at the lake this week. The weather out here is still pretty cold as well. Its so weird because one day it could get down into the 20’s or 30’s with the humidity making it feel like its below 0, but then a day later it will be like 80 and the humidity makes it feel like 90. I actually really like the cold weather though so its all good. I bet yall are getting so excited to have Chad, Em, and Parker around more often! That’s going to be so much fun. I'm jealous of you guys. You will have to take tons of pictures. I'm really sorry that I've been slacking on the pictures. I promise I will start taking more.

This week was a very good week for us. Towards the beginning of the week, we went and saw two media referrals who had ordered Book of Mormons. From these two referrals we got 3 new investigators and 2 pretty solid potential investigators. The one that we are really excited about are George and Linda Miller. When we knocked on this couples door for the first time to give them their Book of Mormon, Ms. Linda answered the door and invited us right in. As we walked in, we were greeted by Mr. George who was sitting on the couch. They told us to sit down and just started talking to us like they had known us forever. They are about 75 years old by them way. So anyways, before we even told them about the Book of Mormon, Mr. George was like, “ I don’t know to much about the Mormon Church, but what I do know is that you are wonderful people, and I want to be a part of your Church.” It was amazing. His wife pretty much said the same thing. I guess Mr. George has had some serious health problems aver the passed 25 years. He had over a quarter of his heart removed and a Colonoscopy recently. About 20 years back he had a major heart surgery where Doctors told him that he most likely would not survive. He told us that he believes that God has kept him alive for these 25 years for a specific reason but that he hasn’t found that reason yet. I think I know the reason!! Haha. Elder Cornwell and I have high hopes for the two of them. We want to get them sealed before he or she passes away. Please keep them in your prayers

Other than that, we have just been doing a lot of finding lately. We have been tracking down old referrals, and calling former and potential investigators from 2006 and older. Since it was super bowl Sunday last night, we stayed in because everyone in the south just pretty much gets hammered when the super bowl comes around. So we stayed in and called pretty much every potential investigator in the area book dating way back to around 2003. It was pretty boring to tell you the truth ha.

Ok so have yall ever hear of the cinnamon challenge? If you have, DO NOT do it! Last night after we finished planning, the Spanish missionaries dared Elder Cornwell to do it. The challenge is that you cant swallow a table spoon of cinnamon. It sounded easy, so he tried it. Bad idea! As soon as he tries to swallow it, he coughed and it all came out his nose and much in brown cloud. He was gasping for air for like 20 seconds. For the next hour after that, its like he had the worst sinus infection ever. His eyes got all swollen and he couldn’t talk. Today he is still having a hard time talking. It was pretty funny, but really stupid at the same time. We never thought that cinnamon could do that. So yeah, don’t ever try it

Everything else has been going good this week. President Summerhays wants everyone in the mission the read the Book of Mormon again befor our next Zone conference and he wants us to mark it in this specific way that he showed us. We mark the Promises and blessings of God in one color, and then we mark the things that we have to do to attain those blessings in another color. Its actually really cool. I’ve gotten way more out of my B of M studies than I have before. Isaiah still really frustrates me though. So yeah my studies lately have been really good and ive been pretty pumped up to study in the mornings lately. Anyways, im boring you now, and I actually need to go email President.

Thank you so much for your emails every week. I love you guys so much. I am so happy to hear that everything is going good back home. Mom- I love you! Dad- I love you! Ill talk to yall next week
Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Jan.26, 2008 "You are our Amulek"

2009-02-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad

This has been a pretty good week. We worked hard and got a good amount of stuff done. My studies have been really good lately for some reason. I realized that I’m still not where I want to be as far as teaching, so for 30 minutes of my personal study time in the morning, I role play by myself to the picture of Jesus that we have down stairs. It’s actually really helped me a lot. The other Elders sometimes think I’m weird though when they walk downstairs and here me talking to myself. Our mornings are really good here. Every other morning Elder Cornwell, me, the Spanish Elders, and a couple of our investigators wake up at around 6:15am and play basketball for about 45 minutes for our exercise time. It really helps me out because I have a hard time exercising in the mornings. Then we usually make our shakes, get ready, study for our 2 hours, and then leave by 10.

The baptism went very well. Juliana asked me to confirm her the next day at church so that was kind of a neat experience. She has such a great testimony of the gospel. She is definitely facing some opposition though which sucks. She lives with her sister Danielle and her brother in law Matt. Danielle has a history of being a little crazy. Last night we got a phone call form our ward mission leader saying that Danielle physically assaulted Juliana, and so now she will be living with him(the ward mission leader) and his family. Its really sad because Juliana was already kicked out of her parents house, and now this happened. She is the most tender hearted girl and wouldn’t harm a fly, so it really made me upset when we heard about that. But, its ok, she has a testimony and has a strong institute group to support her so she will be fine.

There is some pretty crazy stuff going on in the mission right now. I guess Were going to be opening a new Zone sometime soon and we are going to be covering a lot more of Georgia. That would be really cool if I got transferred up there, I don’t really know why, I just think it would be fun to open an area. Also, they just opened an area called Prichard up in the Mobil stake. This city is the most dangerous place in the mission and has highest murder rate in the country! I guess President Summerhays has felt very strongly lately that we will find a lot of success with the African Americans. So anyways, he sent one of my good friends (Elder John) and the old A.P. (Elder Loar) to open up Prichard. President doesn’t want them to just find people there to baptize and then bring them up to Mobil, he wants them to start the Church right in the middle of Prichard. So they’ve started a store front and so far they have about 10 people meeting there every Sunday. In our last Zone conference, President told us some of the stuff that has been happening there and it is a miracle. I guess in their first day in Prichard, Elders John and Loar went to this Old Barber shop in hopes that they would be able to talk to someone. When they went in, they were warmly greeted by a large group of Afro Americans who were just hanging out. The Barber that works there is well known around the neighborhood, and everyone loves him. The Elders taught everyone in the store and I guess the Barber was very interested about what they had to say. He said that he would read the Book of Mormon and Pray. When Elders John and Loar got home that night, they read In alma where it talks about Alma in Ammonihah and how he went and found Amulek and Amulek went with him from that point on and they converted many. While they were reading this, they felt strongly that this Barber would be their Amulek in Prichard. They felt impressed that they should go back to the Barber shop even though it was already about 9pm. When they arrived, to there suprize, the Barber was in his shop all alone. They knocked on the door and he let them in saying, “ I havnt been able to stop thinking about what you Elders told me. Elder John then told the Barber, “ You are our Amulek.” The Barber looked confused, but at the same time wanted to know more. They then opened up the book of Mormon and had the Barber read silently the chapter about Alma meeting Amulek. When he was finished reading, tears filled the Barbers eyes and he said, “I know you two have been sent from God. I will be your Amulek.” President Summerhays drove all the way across the mission to meet the Barber who is now baptized and helping the work move forward in Prichard. Sorry I cant write it as good as President Summerhays told it, but yeah, it was a really cool story.

Anyways, theres not too much more to talk about, other than how much I love you guys. Thank you so much for everything. I love your emails every week. Mom- I love you so much. Dad- I love you so much too. Tell the family that I love them! Love Love Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Pray for Julliana and for Jenny

2009-01-20T23:02:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad-

Im glad yall had a fun few days at the lake this week. Why don’t you just talk Someone else into getting the other lake house? I bet Shawna and Andy would do it. This week was a good one. Its always a little difficult getting used to a new area, but I think im good now. Living with other missionaries is actually really fun. The Spanish Elders are really cool guys, but the only time we can ever really hang out with them is on p-day. I think I already told you about our apartment. It’s a two story and is probably one of the biggest in the mission. My companion is awesome. I get along with him better than any of my passed companions. He is from Orange County so that’s pretty cool. Hes totally someone I would hang out with back home. Its going to be a good transfer. President told me that ....... President told me in my interview that this is the time that I need to step it up a notch and lead. So that’s kind of what I have been trying to put to action this week and its actually been really good. Im just so used to having companions that are really hard workers, so its definitely going to be a learning experience this transfer.

Juliana is the main person that we are teaching right now. She is set to be baptized on January 24th. She loves everything that we have taught her and she has an amazing testimony. She is 21 years old, and she goes to all the YSA activities and goes to institute every Tuesday. You could definitely say that she is a golden investigator. Please pray for her. And please keep praying for Jenny back in crestview. She is living back at home now and her parents aren’t letting her go to church. She is still paying a full tithe though and is working with the bishop to help her financially so that she can move out. Anyways, other than Julianna, we have about 3 others that we are working with. Its pretty slim pickings here in Fort Walton. The Missionaries that have served her in the passed havnt been the most obedient, so we don’t really have as much trust with the members as we did in Crestview. So hopefully getting in with Steve Chapman and his Family will help us get in with the ward. It was so weird walking in to PEC that first Sunday and having Steve in there Saying, “ Whats up Josh?” Yeah, really strange. But hes way cool. He hasn’t had us over for dinner yet, but ill get on him for that and make it happen haha.

I got the pants a few days ago. Thank you so much, I really needed those. Yeah ill try to sent some pictures off to yall sometime this week. I havnt really taken to many yet, so thanks for the reminder. I love that picture frame that you sent me so much. I usually have it turned on when everim getting ready for bed and usually all of p-day. I love it.

We got a cheap blender from a thrift store and we have been making shakes every morning. I have been trying to eat a lot healthier lately. Between us and the Spanish elders, we usually buy carrots, frozen strawberries, bananas, and yogurt to make shakes. Ive had a ton more energy every day than when used to just toast a couple of egos and microwave some sausage. Ive been able to get through whole days without ever needing a lunch time nap or anything. Its been great. Plus, ive been taking those juice plus pills so im feeling pretty good.

Im glad to here that everyone in the fam is doing well. I just got an emails form Katey and Shawna and it sounds like they are doing great. Anyways, I gots to go. I love yall so much. Thank you for everything. I love you mom, I love you dad. Ill talk to ya next week
Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

My new address is 17 falcon ridge ln. Fort Walton, Florida 32547

2009-01-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom and Dad,
The new area is great. Fort Walton is a pretty big city right on the gulf. Its nothing like Crestview at all. To tell you the truth, I actually miss crestview a lot. The members there were like family. That’s funny that Kevin Jura wrote you guys that letter. He was a less-active member who has struggled a lot in the past. He had not been to church in almost a year. We stopped by his house a couple of times and it seems like he just kinda took a liking to us. He and his wife started having us over for dinner all the time. We became really good friends with them to the point where we finally just told him that he needs to get back to church. So the next Sunday he came back and talked to the bishop. Every Sunday after that he came and eventually was able to take the sacrament again. They now have plans to get sealed in the DC temple in the very near future. Its been really fun seeing Kevins life turn around. That’s cool that he wrote you guys....But anyways, back to the new area. Its definitely a lot more like Pensacola, but way less churches and a lot more bums. Our apartment is two stories. Its me, Elder Cornwell, E. Hall, and E. Roselund who is brand new. Then right next door to us is the Spanish Elders. I think this area is really going to stretch me. Everyone here is a little more lax as far as the rules go and that’s going to be hard on me. But itll be good. We have a baptism coming up on the 24th. They only taught her one lesson before I got here and she said that this was the church for her and she wants to be baptized. Her name is Juliana. We just taught her the plan of salvation a couple days ago and she is extremely solid. She believes everything that we have taught her and has a very strong testimony. We have a few investigators other than her that have some good potential as well.

My new address is 17 falcon ridge ln. Fort Walton, Florida 32547. I havnt sent the check home yet. Im just going to mail it to you, probably today if I remember. I don’t really know what we have planned for today, we live right next to a bowling alley that only costs a quarter per game so we might go there after we clean a little bit. There is definitely a lot more to do here than there was in Crestview.

That’s awesome that you guys are gonna start going to the temple more. Im really jealous. I miss it so much. I think that’s one of the first things I want to do when I get home is go to the temple. Oh yeah, that reminds me! I think I know the Family vacation that we should to when I get back! We were over at a members house last night and he was telling us all about the vacation that he and his wife took down to Mexico to see the ancient Lamanite ruins. The pictures that this guys took were so amazing. He said that there are so many little details about the ancient temples down there that completely point to the book of Mormon. He said that you pretty much have free rain to just go wherevery you want in the temples. Most people don’t go inside to far because of how dark they are inside, but he said if you bring flashlights, you can just explore all over inside these ancient temples. I just think that would be so cool. It would be such a testimony builder. But that’s just an idea of course. We still have about a year to figure all that out haha.

Well, I love you guys. Im going to email President Summerhays now. Thank you so much for everything, I really love your emails. Thank you again for everything you did for me on Christmas. Mom- I love you!!!!! Dad- I love you!!!! Ill talk to ya next Monday
Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

2009-01-01T16:34:00.001-08:00

I was pretty excited after talking to ya'll

2009-01-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad-

I didn’t even know that that sword even existed anymore. Weird. Its even more weird that you got gypped $50 for it hahaha. What the heck? Anyways, that’s good that the family party went well. I cant believe Tracy was there, that’s pretty crazy. Yeah I was so excited after talking to all yall. It was so much fun talking to everyone. Me and Shawna were just crackin up the whole time, it was awesome. I love our family, seriously, the Burnhams are the coolest. I sent the pictures out on Friday, so you should get them today or tomorrow. Thank you so much for the baseball cards haha! It was fun opening them up. It was pretty cool considering one of the cards from one of the boxes will probably pay for a couple months worth of gas when I get home. I sent it home with the memory card so that I wouldn’t loose it.

Thank you sooooo much for the Christmas packages yall sent. I loved everything that you got me. I seriously was not expecting that much stuff. What should I do about the pants? Do you want me to just send them home and you can just return them and send the other sizes out? It’s a 30”32 I wear. I probably didn’t write it right last time so seriously, don’t feel bad. Everything else that you got me was perfect. Oh yeah I should probably send you the chech that Boppa sent me as well because there is no wells fargo up here.

I don’t really know what else to tell you guys haha. We seriously talked for like 3 hours so I pretty much told you everything already. Christmas day was a blast. We spent the day over at the bishops house and just hung out with his family. They take such good care of us. They bought us presents so we wouldn’t feel left out. It was tough though because they bought a Wii and we just sat and watched the kids play that for like 2 hours. Even the Bishop was trying to get us to play it, but we resisted the temptation haha.

Last night was a fun night as well. Our friends Ben Walker (Jenny’s boyfriend) had his farewell party last night, so we went over there for most of the night last night. That guy reminds me so much of Ray, its ridiculous. He said he wants to come back to either Cali or Utah and room with me when he gets back so that might be kinda fun.

As far as the work goes, it was pretty slow this week. Elder Hill got strep throat and has been pretty much dying all week, so we couldn’t really do that much. To tell you the truth, im getting pretty excited about transfers, although I hope there is no leadership involved. I just hope I get a companion that wants to work hard and have fun.

Well anyways, Im sorry there wasn’t too much to talk about this week, im sure I will have plenty of fun stories to tell next week. I just hope you know how much I love you guys. Keep me in your prayers, and ill do the same for you I love you Mom! I love you Dad! I love you family!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

NEW PIX OF JOSH --CHRISTMAS 2008

2009-01-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

Had a great phonecall from Josh on Christmas. He called to set it up on his Pday and surprised us. We had really been missing him and the phonecall was like salve on a wound!! Then we got to talk to him 3 times on Christmas day, and all the kid had a chance to talk to him too. He sounds so great and is loving his mission. He seems to have grown so much and has some great insights that made us appreciate the fact he really is growing and learning so much about himself and life.

3 days before Christmas-Right after our first phone call!

2008-12-22T21:56:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad!

That was so fun getting to talk to you guys! I felt so good just getting to here your voices. Things have changed just a bit for Christmas. I probably wont be able to call until about 1:00 pm central time, so it will be 11:00 your time. I am so excited to talk to yall. I forgot to ask you one important thing on the phone though. When do you want me to sent the memory card home? I could send it today, but then you wouldn’t get all the pictures that I take on Christmas. I think im just going to send it to yall the day after Christmas so that you can get more pictures. That will also give me some more time to make a longer recording on the tape recorder

Theres not really that much to say right now because I just talked to you and Im going to have a lot of stories to tell you on Christmas! I already told you the highlight of my week last week. It was so awesome. We were riding our bikes to an appointment with a new investigator, and as we were riding, some kids that were skating on there ramps were making fun of us saying, “Come ride your bikes off our ramps!” They were all laughing at us. So I turned my head around and yelled back, “We will on our way back!” So after our appointment, we were riding back, and sure enough, the kids were still there. They thought we were just going to ride by again so that were still kind of laughing at us. Then I turned the corner and stopped right where they were skating and I asked them what kind of decks they had. They were a little stand offish at first, but then one of the kids who looked like the oldest of the group asked me if I wanted to try. So I got on his skateboard in my brown Bostonian dress shoes and my white shirt, tie, and slacks, and landed a 360 flip on the first try. Right away all of the kids opened up and all started letting me ride with them. While this was happening, Elder Hill was talking to their youth pastor about the restored gospel. He saw that I was messing up my dress shoes, so he took his shoes off and let me where his. After about 45 minutes, we ended up leaving, and we thought that was the end of it. But the next day we got a phone call from the other Wards ward mission leader saying he had talked to some youth pastor that said he was extremely interested in the message that these two young skater missionaries at taught him the day before! So were going to go back this week and talk to this guy more!! So yeah that’s our fun missionary story for the week. My mission has been full of these types of experiences so far. I don’t know why the Lord has blessed me so much when I am such a punk haha! I love Him for it though. He understands me perfectly, and im starting to understand Him a little more every day. I love how it works. Prayer has completely changed my mission and my life. I love it. I am so grateful for everything I have and for the miracles that I have seen out here.

Mom and Dad, I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you both for the patience that you had with me. I love you with all my heart. I am SOOOOO excited to talk to you on Thursday!!! I love you!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

p.s.- Sorry this was a short one, I figured I wouldn’t say as much so that ill have more to tell you on Christmas

Josh's first baptism!

2008-12-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad-

So yeah everything went well this week. The baptism was awesome. Her boyfriend Ben was actually the one that baptized her. It was such an awesome experience. She is still going through a lot with her parents, but her testimony is just so strong that I don’t think anything could break it at this point. After her baptism on Saturday, Jenny went with her parents down to Destin for some family thing. I guess her Dad totally cussed her out and said that as long as she is living with them, that she will have to go to the Catholic Church. We were pretty stressed out when she called us and told us all that because her confirmation was the next day (Sunday) and so was her parents church. So she ended up calling Bens dad and he drove 45 minutes down to Destin to pick her up so that she could make it for the confirmation. She was stressed when she got to church, but after she was confirmed, she just looked like she was at peace with it all. Then I guess on Sunday night, her parents called the catholic priest over and he met with Jenny. She said that he asked her three questions. 1.) What is your reason for leaving the Catholic Church? 2.) Are you doing this to rebel against your parents? 3.) What is their (Mormons) view of the God Head? She said that all she did when he asked her these questions was bear her testimony that Christ lives, that he is the living son of God the Father, and that there are authorized Prophets and Apostles on the earth again, and that we don’t need to just rely on the bible alone, but that there is additional scripture and latter-day revelation. Anyways, I cant describe every situation as well as I would like to, just know that it all worked out very well. I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas gift than the joy we had at that baptism. It was awesome.

So anyways, yeah you can have those scriptures, and make all the marks in them you would like. Im going to hang on to the ones ive got. Sadie is so funny, I miss her so much. The other day we were tracting, and I looked on a window and saw two huge black and white Great Danes. One of them looked identical to Sadie, and she was just staring at me with her ears all perked up! Im not gonna lie, I got kind of teary eyed haha!

The works been pretty good this week. We found a couple new investigators, they both seem pretty promising. We got permission from the mission president to go caroling with the sisters last night as well, so that was pretty fun. We had some pretty awkward experiences actually haha.

That good that you have all your shopping done. I don’t yet. Im trying to find some cheap little things for our district cuz I guess everyone is getting eachother stuff and I don’t want to be the only one who doesn’t get everyone something. I am sooooo excited to call you guys. Ill be calling probably the night before to set everything up so be ready Its so wird that it has already been 7 months since we talked on the phone last. Im taking some good pictures for you guys so I hope youll like em. Thank you so much again, I still cant believe yall sent me a camera! I hope you didn’t send me to much in the package, ill feel really bad

K well im sorry that this was kind of a short one, There is a ton of people on the computers today so we didn’t have to much time to write. And I don’t feel too bad because ill probably be sending a Christmas card home this week. That’s right, we made Christmas Cards at walmart haha. Im good as far as food goes, we disposed of all the cakes this week so were good now haha. But anyways, I love you guys so much. I am so excited to talk to yall next week. I love you with all my heart Mom!! And I love you too Dad!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Dec 8, 08 Jenny's baptism set for Saturday

2008-12-08T19:01:00.000-08:00

Hey Mom and Dad-

`This week as been a good week, we have been doing a lot of tracting lately. For a while there it seemed like we had a ton of really promising investigators but they all seemed to have fallen through the cracks lately, except Jenny of course. So we have been looking through our records and doing a lot of prayer and fasting so that we can find more people to teach. Its been kinda tough, but the Lord has definitely helped us out. We had about 3 days this week of non-stop tracting and did not find a single person. By the time Friday came around we were getting pretty discouraged. Then at Zone Conference on Friday we ended up getting a referral from President Summerhays and another referral from Head Quarters. Then on Saturday we got another referral from head quarters. So we are pretty excited to go see them this week.

Jenny is still set for this Saturday. She is so excited. I don’t think her parents are going to come, but she said she is fine with that. It really is one of the best Christmas gifts I could ask for. She is so solid in her testimony. She just had her baptismal interview last night and we have the whole thing all planned out and ready. Ill make sure and take some good pictures.

Thank you so much for the camera!! Oh my gosh, you really didn’t have to get me such a nice one! Seriously, thank you. I love you guys so much. I went ahead and bought another memory card for like $15 so I hope that’s ok. Both memory card were in the other case that got stolen. The cool thing about this camera is that I can put other memory cards into it and just copy their pictures to the internal hard drive of the camera and then just copy them from the internal hard drive back to my own memory card. I hope that makes sence. It makes things much easier. And the good thing about that is that a lot of the p-day district pictures that I lost, I now have them back because Elder Hill had a lot of them on his camera. So im way excited about that.

Im ok as far as presents go, really, I guess the only other thing I would want is pictures. Even just pictures of the house, and the back yard, and the animals, and that kind of stuff, and of course pictures of the family would be awesome too. And if there are any good talks that you like, you could always print of some of those.

I don’t really have too many fun stories from this week. Zone conference was probably the best thing. I love the spirit that is always there with all the missionaries and President Summerhays. I always look forward to the interviews that I have with him. Seriously, this man is inspired. Every time I talk to him it seems like he knows my exact thoughts, because he always says the exact things I need to hear. I cant wait for yall to meet him.

Oh yeah, I guess another thing I would like is some more Juice Plus pills. I finished them off a long time ago. Seriously, you guys would be so dicusted if you looked inside our fridge. Members just keep making us cakes and pies and cookies. And then after zone conference, we got stuck with all the left ove deserts. We have 3 huge cakes, 3 full pies, about 200 homemade cookies, a batch of brownies, and a tub of ice cream. And then of course our main course meal when we don’t go to a members home for dinner consists of Spagettios and either microwave corn dogs or taquitos. So yeah, those juice plus pills would be nice haha.

That’s fun that you went up to Boppa and Colleen’s. That dinner story made me laugh really hard haha. When is the last time yall went to the lake house? Your probably pretty busy lately with work and with getting ready for Christmas. I am getting so excited to call home. The pre-call to set it up will either be the Monday before Christmas (our p-day) or on Christmas eve. We still need to figure that out, I will let you know next Monday.

Anyways, I love you guys with all my heart. Is there any kind of trinkets that you or the kids would like for Christmas? Mom and Dad, I love you and miss you so much. I hope you know how happy I am out here. I love my mission. It means everything to me there is no where else in the world that I would rather be. I just wish you guys were here to share these experiences with me. I love you Mom! I love you Dad! Merry Christmas!!!!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

2008-12-02T01:27:00.000-08:00

2008-12-02T01:25:00.000-08:00

Current Address for Josh: 12/1/08
368 Hospital Dr.
Crestfiew, FLA 32539

Dec 1, 2008 I'm so grateful for my family this Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

Dec 1, 08

Hey Mom and Dad-

Wow so it sounds like the holidays are going to be pretty fun back home. That’s awesome that chad, Emily and parker are coming home for a while. Yeah, im allowed to call anybody in the family so you don’t have to worry about staying with everybody if you don’t want. Were allowed to call a day or two early so I will most likely call on Christmas eve just for about 5 minutes to set up a time and what not. Im am so stinkin excited! You really don’t have to get me much this year. As far as the ties go, I know that express has skinnier ones and regular sized ones. I would rather go with the regular sized ones. Im not a huge fan of the real skinny ties anymore. You can just send the package to the Crestview address. Tranfers were last week and we are both staying here for another 5 weeks. Can you believe at the end of this transfer I will be hitting 9 months? So crazy. I don’t know where all the time has gone. I will be a third of the way done in about 9 days. But who’s keeping track anyways? Haha.

So dad bought a Nintendo wii? Do you guys play it a lot? I know that bowling game that comes with it is pretty fun. The kids want a new trampoline? Are you really going to buy one? Remember what happened to me on one of those things? Haha

Anyways, thanksgiving was a blast. First we went over to the Mozina families home at around 2:00pm and had our thanksgiving over there. Their family totally reminds me of ours so that was really fun. Theres two boys in the family: chris who is 22 and Justin who is 16. They are so funny . And then their sister amber who is about 21 just came home from BYU so all three of them together was a crack up. We played pictionary for a while with them, and then we went over to an investigators house for a second thanksgiving dinner. This is when things got a bit interesting. This investigators name is Chuck. His daughter Miranda who is 18 years old , got married to a less active member of our ward (Jeremy) who is about 30 years old. He grew up in detriot so he is pretty gangster looking haha, but he is way cool. Anyways, Chucks Daughter Miranda got baptized about 3 months ago, but after about two weeks, she went crazy and started doing drugs and cheating on Jeremy. So for the passed three months, hes been trying to get a divorce with her and she has pretty much been living on the street. So I say things got interesting at Chuck’s house, because he had Mirand and her friends come over, and also invited Jeremy as well. So yeah things went pretty crazy over there. There were a few choice words said, but finally Miranda and her friends left and everything went good after that. We had some good laughs and dinner was amazing. Chuck is about 70 years old, and hes from Boston so he has the coolest accent. Hes really hard headed, but extremely smart and very nice. So yeah Thanksgiving was good

The rest of the week was decent. Elder Hill was sick most of the week, so most the time I was on the phone trying to call potential investigators to set up appointments. That got pretty boring after a while. He says hes feeling better now though so hopefully this next week will pick up. Sometimes I feel like im the only one who wants to actually get up and work. Its getting a little frustrating, but oh well, it’s the frustrating and discouraging times that you grow the most right?

So yeah like I said, you can send stuff straight to here for the next 5 weeks. I havnt gotten any mail for a while now so im excited to finally get something haha! That’s awesome that Emily called you guys. What did she say? Tell my friends to write me! Actueally, most of them have, im just a bum and it takes me a while to write them back lol. Brett sent me some Hillarious Halloween pictures so that was pretty fun.

Anyways, I love you guys. I thought a lot this thanksgiving about all I am grateful for, and there is nothing on earth that I could be more grateful than my family. I love you guys so much. I pray for you everynight. Keep praying for me and especially for my investigators, especially Jenny. Shes still getting baptized on December 13, but she needs all the prayers she can get because of her family. Mom- I love you with all my heart. Dad- I love you so much also. Say hi to everyone for me and tell Chad and Shawna they need to write me back! Im going to write Katey today, and Boppa too because I got another letter form him. Anyways, I love yall!!!!!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Nov 24, 2008 Starting more serious journal writing....I love my mission

2008-11-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

Nov 24, 08

Hey Mom and Dad-
Those pictures you sent are crazy!! Wow, I thought you were exaggerating when you said the fires were 100 ft tall. You weren’t joking! So yeah the whole camera thing was a huge bummer. I was pretty down about that for a while because I had a ton of pictures and videos of my old district which was my favorite district so far on my mission. I really don’t need much for Christmas though. You really don’t have to get me a new camera. I will just by some disposable ones haha. And as far as cloths and stuff, I like regular width ties, not the slim ones. I have to warn you though, I am very picky about my ties, and I really don’t need too many more. All I want is like 2 more ties, and there are a couple that I know express carries that I really like. I don’t really need any more white shirts, im pretty much covered in that area. I told you about the pants, probably just a black or brown pair size 30”32 from express. The size 30”30 ones have tended to get a little too short after I wash them. That’s really all I need, and I don’t even NEED that stuff so you really don’t have to get me anything. Oh yeah, as far as the mosimo shirts, I don’t really like those ones as much as the Athletic fit ones that I used to get before. And I wore a size small in those. If you just got me like 1 or 2 of the dark charcoal grey color of those that would be fine. Ok im don’t asking for stuff.

This week has been much better. We had Zone conference this week and that always makes for a good week because we are always so pumped up to work afterward. My only struggle lately has been with Elder Hill. He is an extremely hard worker when he wants to be, but then other times he will just want to sit and not do much, which irritates me. He doesn’t really like other people telling him what to do so that has kind of caused some contention lately because im not just going to sit and waste time out here. I didn’t sign up to come out here and work 75% of the time. Its not just him though. So many of the missionaries out here are just so young, and they are so naive about everything. Its not like im mature or anything haha, you know im not, but some of the missionaries out here you just cant help but wonder what they are doing out here. I don’t know, sometimes I regret not coming out here when I was nineteen, but then at the same time, im grateful, because im able to get to a lot more people than I think I could have when I was nineteen. Sorry about that tangent, like I said, we had a good week this week. I was a little bothered because we got in last night with 30 minutes left of our day, and we only got one investigator all week. So, Elder Hill and I knelt down and prayed for inspiration for what we could possibly do at 8:30 on a Sunday night where we could find someone who is searching for the Gospel. We both decided to go out and walk down our street. While walking, we both felt that we should walk into this little apartment complex that is next to ours, and as soon as we walked in, we saw a lady taking out her trash, so we decided to talk to her. To our surprise, she had never even heard of the Mormon church and she wanted to learn more. We set up an appointment for next Saturday with her. The Lord delivers when we ask in faith, that’s all I can say.

So have yall gone up to the lake at all this week? I havnt heard any fun lake stories lately. I guess the whole fire thing must have been a good scare for everyone. Next time you sent pictures out, can you send some pics of our house and the backyard? That sounds kind of weird, but I would just like to see all that stuff haha.

So ive started to write in my journal after like 8 months. Ive written in it a few times, but not as much as I should. This week ive been writing in it almost every day. I guess I just figured that you guys will have all my letters when I get home and that I could just look at those as my journal, but lately, I feel like I should really be writing all the expeiences ive been having on a daily basis down. Seriously Mom and Dad, my life style has changed so much out here. The Lord has shaped me and is continuing to shape me into everything that ive wanted to become. I love my mission. Im so grateful for the savior and everything he has done for me. I love you Mom with all my heart. I love you too Dad, so much. Im sorry I have to cut this short, I only have 5 minutes left and I haven’t emailed president yet. Just know that I am happy and I love you!!!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

2008-11-24T16:49:00.000-08:00

Yorba Linda of Fire Week of Nov. 15, 2008

2008-11-17T21:03:00.000-08:00

Mom, Dad, and Fam-

I am so happy to hear you guys are ok! A couple days ago I was at Pizza Hutt and they had the TVs on. I looked at the TV for a split second, and in huge letters I see YORBA LINDA ON FIRE! I was like, what the heck!!?? The News was showing videos of it and I recognized some of the streets they were filming. So yeah I was pretty eager to email you guys. Im not gonna lie, I was 2 seconds away from calling president and seeing if he could call you guys to make sure everything was alright. That letter that Mom sent was like an action movie. Im sitting here in a nice quiet library, and when I started reading the email, I pretty much yelled, “holy crap!!” I feel like I cant even write back after an email like that. Everything that went on this week is pretty boring compared to 100 ft flames almost completely destroying our house and our entire city. When I saw the news, I though for sure yall would be up at the lake house! Did you guys not realize how close the fire was? Im still all shaken up, so I cant even imagine what it was like for you.

So everyone is ok though? Did the fire go by Bretts or Rays house at all? Why couldn’t the fire just go get all the protesting gays? That’s crazy that they are still at it. Weve heard bits and pieces out here. They tell us not to talk about politics or anything out here, but its kind of hard not to when that’s all we hear about when we talk to the members. It’s a little annoying.

Anyways, the work was kind of slow this week. It was actually a really frustrating week for me to tell you the truth. I’ve gotten into a mode lately where I just don’t really like wasting any time. ......... There are just a lot of little things that I let get under my skin and I shouldn’t let that happen. I have a lot of pride that I never new I had, so im really trying to work on that.

Things are still going really good with both Jenny and Marty. Jennys baptismal date is still on December 13th and Martys is now on December 5th. Im really excited about Jenny, shes just so excited to get baptized. Shes getting involved with the youth and going to institute down In Pensacola. You can just tell that her testimony is so sincere. She still hasn’t told her parents about it. She says that she doesn’t care what they say or do, she knows that its true and that’s all she needs.

Transfers are coming up next week. I really don’t know whats going to happen. Theres a possibility that Elder Hill might leave. Im most likely going to stay because they aren’t going to white wash Crestview, theres just too much good stuff going o here. If Elder Hill leaves, theres a chance that I might train because there are 6 missionaries going home and 12 plus missionaries coming out. I really don’t know though, we just hear rumors about what going on so its kinda fun when tranfers come around.
Everything thing else is going good though. Im getting way excited for the Holidays. Its pretty crazy if you think about it, ill be talking to yall in about a month on the phone. Actually it will probably be sooner because they let us do a pre phone call a few days early so that we can tell you what time exactly we will be calling. VERY NICE!! Haha.

So I havnt sent any pictures home yet of Elder Hill and I? The last ones I sent were definitely not the ones of Elder Honzic and I. I think your getting confused of who my Companions have been . I was trained by Elder Honzic, then I was with elder Taylor, then Keesler, now im with Elder Hill. K well I have to wrap this letter up, I only have 7 minutes left and I havnt even written president yet. I love you you Mom!!!! I love you dad!!!! I love you family! Oh, wait, my time just got extended an additional 15 minutes. Sweet!!!

K so have I already told you what I needed for Christmas? Not really anything haha. Ill try and think of a list. So far, all I can think of is a pair or two of size 30”32 express pants. Brown or black, or both haha. Anyways, I love you!!!!! Send pix of the fires and ill send the chip home in the next day or two. Bye!!!

Love,
Elder Joshua burnham

Last couple of weeks in Crestview have been amazing

2008-11-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad and Family-

What the heck?! I wrote you guys last week! That is so weird! Dang it that makes me kinda mad actually. Im really sorry guys. That would ruin my week if I didn’t get a letter from you guys. Don’t ever think that I would deliberately not write you guys. I will never not write you on purpose.

Anyways, I guess that means I have to catch you up on the last two weeks lol. The last couple weeks in Crestview have been amazing. Crestview seemed to be dead at the beginning of last transfer, and now in the last few weeks it seems to have exploded. I don’t know what happened. I think I told you about Marty, well he is getting baptized on November 22nd! Im pretty sure that’s all I wrote about in the last letter. Or maybe it was the one before? I forget. But yeah he is an amazing person. The only hurdle for him is Coffee. Oh yeah and I guess theres the whole fact that hes an active anarchist haha!! But we can work on that. I'm trying to think of what else happened last week. All I remember is that we did a whole bunch of tracting and had a whole lot of success in that. I think last week was Zone Conference as well. It was one of the most powerful Zone Conferences that I've been to so far. I made a ton of little changes because of it and it has made a huge difference in the work. The Lord has blessed us so much.

This week was even better than last week. We found a few new investigators and we have had some amazing lessons. The one I want to bring up is the one we had with Jenny. I think I told you about her a few weeks ago. Shes about 18 years old and her boy friend is the one I told you about who reminds me of Ray. He just got his mission call to New Zealand. Anyways, his girlfriend Jenny was interested in the Church and so we have been teaching her for about 5 weeks now. Last week was pretty scary because she had talked to her Catholic priest and a bunch of her catholic friends and for a few days there she didn’t want anything to do with the Church. We were all so confused because she had born her testimony and had told us she knew it was true. We were pretty discouraged. After a few days she called us and said she wanted to meet with us without her boyfriend Ben being there. He had been at every lesson before so that kind of confused us. But anyways, so we met with her yesterday which was fast Sunday. Surprisingly we found out that she had fasted. All I can really say about the lesson that we had with Jenny yesterday is that it was the most powerful and spiritual lesson I have been in so far. Jenny started out with many questions which we answered. I wish I could remember everything that was said, all I know is that it was pretty much just a testimony meeting with the 3 of us. Elder Hill and I bore our testimonies and by the time the lesson was over, Jenny’s countenance had changed. She then once again bore her testimony and was completely in tears. She told us that the next step for her was baptism! So we set a date with her for December 13. Let me just say that there is power in Fasting. We thought we were the only ones fasting for Jenny, but it turned out that Jenny and Ben had both fasted, the Mozina family from our ward had fasted for her, and even the Stake President had fasted for her. Ahhhh, I just wish I could tell you everything that happened or at least write out how happy I am! I get frustrated because I cant type everything that I feel. So yeah we have 2 baptismal dates set, Marty and Jenny. Please keep them in your prayers. Especially Jenny. She has a tough road ahead of her because her whole family is Catholic and very stubborn. Please pray for her.

I cant believe how involved the church is in this whole Prop 8 thing. That’s so crazy. It’s a pretty big deal out here too but its probably way crazier in California. Yeah send me those papers so I can vote. I hope its not to late though, I hear election day is tomorrow? I don’t know, they don’t tell us anything here.

Oh yeah, I think I told you the wrong size for those brown express pants a couple of weeks ago. I said size 32”32 but I think a size 30”32 would be better because they run kinda big.

Ill send pictures soon. Sorry its taking so long. I just want to get as many as possible in each chip.

K anyways, all is well here in Crestview. Ive been the happiest that ive been my whole mission so no worries. I love you guys so much! Mom- how is the business going? How are the kids? Dad- is the practice still going strong? Hows the boat and the sea-doos? I love you guys with all my heart!!!! Bye!!!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

P.S. Im going to send this twice just to make sure!!

Pray for Marty!

2008-11-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

(week of Oct. 27, 2008)

Hello Mom and Dad and Family!

This week was a pretty crazy week. We had Zone conference on Wednesday which

always seems rekindle the fire in the work. We made a lot of changes this week with

the activities that we do on a day to day basis. We went through and just wiped out all

the activities we do that didn’t affect

our numbers over the last few weeks. Our desire to find people to teach really increased

Wednesday, and we are both happier because of it.
. Earlier this week, we got a new investigator named Marty. Marty is about 30 years old and

has lived an extremely rough life. He was an adopted child and when he was about 10 years old, his parents decided they didnt want him anymore and he went to a foster home. He was living with a
foster mom for a couple years until she died. He grew up extremely rebellious, blaming god for all his problems. He has lived on the streets for the past 5-10 years and has been on and off hard drugs. About 2 years ago he got in hold of his Mom who gave him up when he was 10 and he has been living with her. Hes been clean for the past 2 years as well. Anyways, so we met Marty and we taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. Already in one week he has almost read half of it. He is extremely smart and has researched many different religions. He said that that Book of Mormon just ties all the loose ends that were in his mind. He mentioned how he read about the Mayans and the myth of the great white God who visited them and how it makes sense that it was Christ. He said that he has always known that there was just something missing from the Bible and that there had to be something else. So yeah, we had a lesson with him 3 days ago and asked him if he would be baptized and he said Yes! The date is for Nov. 22. We have a lot of work to do though. He still has coffee on a daily basis and he is an anarchist haha. Were researching the group that he is part of to make sure there isn’t illegal stuff that goes on in it. Were taking him fishing next P-day because he really doest have very many friends. Ill send some pictures home of him. He still looks pretty rough around the edges with his foot long hair and his 6 inch beard, but he is such a good person. So pray for Marty!!

Thats awesome that yall went to the lake this week. I miss that place so much. The weather that we are having out here lately reminds me a lot of the weather in California. There isnt too much humidity anymore and its about 70 degrees every day. Such nice biking weather! So the wave runners are running well? Thats good to hear. I cant believe we have a master craft and wave runners out there. Jeeze. I dont even want to think about it haha.

Yeah Ray and Brett are both doing good. Its been awesome talking with them. We are still cracking the same jokes and being all nerdy like we used to so that’s fun. Emily is doing really good as well. Shes in the relief society presidency in her ward in Utah so that says something haha I wrote Kimmy about a week ago so im still waiting on that. Its been really fun keeping in touch with people. It really has eliminated the whole home-sick part of the mission so it actually makes work a lot
easier. I still need to write Chad and Katey. I just sent a letter off to Shawna and the Kids so now I’m working on them. Thats good to hear that chad is so close to being done. That’ll be a blast to have them closer to home.

I feel like my letters have been really boring lately, im sorry. Im going to be better at writing in my journal so that I can remember stories throughout the week to tell you guys about. I love you guys and I miss you. But just know that I am happy. This week was amazing. Mom- I love you so so so so much. Dad- I love you with all my heart. The rest of the Fam- I love and miss you all! Bye guys!!!

Nov 3, 2008 Martys baptism date set

2008-11-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

11/3/08

Hello Mom and Dad and Family!

This week was a pretty crazy week. We had Zone conference on Wednesday which
always seems rekindle the fire in the work. We made a lot of changes th=
is week with the activities that we do on a day to day basis. We went through and just wiped out all the activities we do that didn't affect our numbers over the last few weeks. Our desire to find people to teach really increased after Wednesday, and we are both happier because of it. Earlier this week, we got a new investigator named Marty. Marty is about 30 years old and has lived an extremely rough life. He was an adopted child and when he was about 10 years old, his parents decided they didnt want him anymore and he went to a foster home. He was living with a foster mom for a couple years until she died. He grew up extremely rebellious, blaming god for all his problems. He has lived on the streets for the past 5-10 years and has been on and off hard drugs. About 2 years ago he got in hold of his Mom who gave him up when he was 10 and he has been living with her. Hes been clean for the past 2 years as well. Anyways, so we met Marty and we taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. Already in one week he has almost read half of it. He is extremely smart and has researched many different religions. He said that that Book of Mormon just ties all the loose ends that were in his mind. He mentioned how he read about the Mayans and the myth of the great white God who visited them and how it makes sense that it was Christ. He said that he has always known that there was just something missing from the Bible and that there had to be something else. So yeah, we had a lesson with him 3
days ago and asked him if he would be baptized and he said Yes! The date
is for Nov. 22. We have a lot of work to do though. He still has coffee on a daily basis and he is an anarchist haha. Were researching the group that he is part of to make sure there isnt any illegal stuff that goes on in it. Were taking him fishing next P-day because he really doesnt have very many friends. Ill send some pictures home of him. He still looks pretty rough around the edges with his foot long hair and his 6 inch beard, but he is such a good person. So pray for Marty!!

Thats awesome that yall went to the lake this week. I miss that place so much. The weather that we are having out here lately reminds me a lot of the weather in California. There isnt too much humidity anymore and its about 70 degrees every day. Such nice biking weather! So the wave runners are running well? Thats good to hear. I cant believe we have a master craft and wave runners out there. Jeeze. I dont even want to think about it haha.

Yeah Ray and Brett are both doing good. Its been awesome talking with them.
We are still cracking the same jokes and being all nerdy like we used to
so thats fun. Emily is doing really good as well. Shes in the relief society presidency in her ward in Utah so that says something haha. Ive wrote Kimmy about a week ago so im still waiting on that. Its been really fun keeping in touch with people. It really has eliminated the whole home-sick part of the mission so it actually makes work a lot easier. I still need to write Chad and Katey. I just sent a letter off to Shawna and the Kids so now im working on them. Thats good to hear that chad is so close to being done. Thatll be a blast to have them closer to home.

I feel like my letters have been really boring lately, im sorry. Im going to be better at writing in my journal so that I can remember stories throughout the week to tell you guys about. I love you guys and I miss you. But just know that I am happy. This week was amazing. Mom- I love you so so so so much. Dad- I love you with all my heart. The rest of the Fam- I love and miss you all! Bye guys!!!

Nov 3, 2008 Elder Hill, possible baptism date with Tony

2008-11-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

Nov 3 08
Mom and Dad and Fam-

So yeah I have been hearing about all the stuff going on in California and in Salt Lake. So crazy! The members out here have been really good at informing us about everything. It seems like so much crazy stuff has been going on since I left and its only been 7 months! Is it true that they were writing on the walls Temple grounds? That’s so cool that the Polynesians were protecting the temple. Some of the best missionaries that I have met out here so far are the Polynesians.

I got the package you sent with the pictures and cloths. Thank you so much. The only thing that I forgot is that those shirts don’t have pockets haha. Its ok though. There is a senior missionary couple out here that travels around the mission and they sew and alter everyones cloths so im sure they’ll be able to so some pockets on for me. I’m still working on sending you more pictures. I forgot which ones I already sent last time. I’m sorry im taking so long with that. I love The fam looks so good! Ithe pictures that you guys send me though loved the pictures of sadie and murph-durph especially. I miss those dogs.

The weather out here is beautiful. It’s about 70-75 degrees every day. It gets pretty cold at night, but im ok with that. Im getting way excited for the holidays. I cant believe its almost Thanksgiving! Are you guys going to go get a big tree again this year or are you gonna get a smaller one? We have a really cool family signed up to feed us for thanksgiving so you don’t have to worry about me not getting fed. I am hoping to stay here another transfer. Elder Hill and I get along pretty good. To be honest there are some things he does that really irritate the crap out of me haha! But for the most part he is a good kid. He might get transferred because hes been here for almost 6 months. I don’t think ill be going anywhere soon. But of course that’s what I said back in Pensacola and I ended up getting transferred so I dunno.

This week was a pretty good week. Not as much happened as the couple weeks before but it was still a pretty good one. We got a few new investigators, but all but one got antied before we had a chance to have a second lesson. One of them called an hour after our first lesson and said, “Sorry but I’m going to have to cancel for next week because I don’t believe in a heaven where you can have more than one wife.” Then she hung up on us. She must have went on the internet or something right after we left, kind of annoying. We had to push Marty’s baptismal date back because he is still struggling a bit with the word of wisdom. He still really wants to be baptized and he knows its true. He is totally committed to quit smoking and drinking coffee so just keep praying for him. Jenny is still on for December 13. She’s going to tell her parents this week, so on Tuesday were going to give her a blessing because shes pretty scared. We are probably going to set a baptismal date with another investigator named Tony Despane soonas well. His wife is a member and I think he is getting pretty close. We have had some really good lessons with him. Other than that we just contacted, tracted, and visited less-actives all week.

Im glad you guys had fun at the lake this week. I miss that place. Theres about 5 or 6 really cool missionaries out here that I invited to come out there for a weekend when we all come back so I hope that’s ok with you guys haha. Mom and Dad, I love you so much. Thank you for everything. Your letters, packages, and emails make me so happy. Im so happy that everything is going good back home. Keep me posted about this whole Prop. 8 thing. I love you Mom! I love you Dad! I love you Family!

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Reading Jesus the Christ

2008-10-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

Mom, Dad, and Family-

This week has been a pretty good one. We found 4 new people to teach so that was pretty good. The weather is getting so nice here. Its about 75 degrees today and not very humid at all. That’s pretty much how it’s been all week and hopefully it’ll keep getting colder from here on out cuz I’m loving it You want pictures of Elder Honzic? That was my trainer, I think I sent pictures of him a while ago. Elder Hill is who Im with right now. I know its probably confusing because they all start with Elder.

Im still having a blast here. The only thing I miss is being around other missionaries for P-day. The closest missionaries to us besides the sisters are about 45 minutes away in Defuniak Springs. The whole Jenny situation worked out pretty good. We are still going to teach her. It’s a long and complicated story so I'm not going to get into it haha. But it worked out that’s all that matters. We actually just taught her another lesson yesterday and it went really well. She said she wants to be part of the church and raise a family in it so I think she is getting pretty close. Id say she is probably our most promising investigator right now. We ended up doing a butt load of tracting this week. Its hard to get ward members to get out and talk to their friends and neighbors. Seriously, that is the only way the work is going to progress, is if the members realize that it is their job to get out and find people. I feel for them though, because it is extremely intimidating to talk to people in the south considering everyone is Baptist and pretty much everyone has heard of the Mormons and thinks we are a bunch of Loonies. I guess theres an anti-mormon movie that’s really popular our here called God Makers. Its some ex-temple worker that fell away and he made this cartoon of the temple ceremony that is all false. Most of the people that like to bash out here have that movie and swear by it. Its so annoying.

So Daniel Griffin is putting in his papers? That is so crazy! Has Brett Anderson left for Africa yet? Ive been talking to Ray and Brett a lot lately. Its kinda fun writing letters back and forth with them. Ive also been writing to Emily Labonte a little bit lately. She says shes going down to Yorba Linda for a little bit soon and shell probably come visit you guys. That’s so awesome that you guys talked to Sister Baird. Yeah she was way cool. Her Daughter is Sister Cooksie in our Ward. The Cooksies are probably one of my favorite families out here. So You talked to her for like 30 minutes I here? Sister Cooksie said you guys were both crying lol. That made my day yesterday when I heard she called you guys. I knew she was going to try but I know how our family is with answering phone numbers we don’t recognize haha. That’s awesome that you guys are doing that Prop. 8 thing on the street corner. Ive heard a lot about that out here as well. Everyone is talking about how bad it is in California right now. So scary. But at least we know that whatever happens, it'll all work out in the end.

Ive been reading Jesus The Christ every night before bed. Thank you for sending it out. That book is so amazing. Its completely addictive though. Can you believe how close Christmas is? That is so weird to me. Summer flew by way to fast. I don’t really have any Christmas ideas yet. Ill probably ask for another brown pair of 32”32 express pants and that’s it. I really need Shawna's new address. I wrote her and the family a letter and I cant send it until I have their new address. Anyways, sorry about the boring letter. There wasn’t that much to write about this week. Ill do better next week. I love you gusy with all my heart. Your in my Prayers every night. I love you Mom! I love You Dad! Im way excited to talk to yall on Christmas

Love,
Elder Joshua Burnham

Current Address in Crestview

2008-10-22T14:09:00.002-07:00

Josh's local address in Crestview is:
368 Hospital Dr.
Crestview, FLA. 32539

2008-10-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

A great phone call!

2008-10-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

Just had a call from a lady named Kathy Baird, who just recently had dinner with Elder Burnham and Elder Hill in Crestview, Fla! She was visiting her daughter and they had the missionaries for dinner. She called and told us how cute these elders were, what a sweet message Josh gave, and how impressed she was with them! She said she thought Josh had been out a whole lot longer than he has been cause he seemed so confident with the scriptures, and seemed like a "seasoned missionary"! He looks great, has gained 25 lbs, and she said the ward there was so friendly and there was such a good spirit there. In fact all of the people she had met in that area were extraordinarily friendly and sweet. All of this information is quite good to hear of course! Makes me realize I need to call the families of these elders we have for dinner. The call meant so much to us!!