September 1, 2014

Hello again family!

So we got permission to do our emails for a short time again today. Yesterday was pretty crazy. So we drove up to Ashburton, about 60 km away, to the other Elders in the district because we were going to spend P-day with them and now we are on exchanges. And I was supposed to email a baptismal candidate. Well we get there are we go to the Library and it had a sign saying "CLOSED DUE TO EMERGENCY" So we went to take down the baptismal font at the chapel. (The Ashburton ward meets in a building that used to be a bank so for their baptismal font, they have an above-ground pool they fill up and take down in a little courtyard out the back of the building.) Then we went to McDonald's for lunch. Well while we were there, one of the Elder's investigators told us not to go to the other side of the town because there was....a shooting! Two people were killed and one severely injured. Crazy! So that is why the library was closed. We saw the crime scene (from afar) and saw it was near the Sister missionaries' flat! So we thought for just a moment it was the sisters! But it wasn't. So we were all relieved. But we received instruction to stay inside all day and not do anything. The shooting was in the morning and they didn't find the guy until about 6 PM that night. I heard he was just angry with one of the government agencies called Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ for short). WINZ is the agency that does the welfare program. We heard the man was upset with the agency and specifically one of the employees that interviewed him and denied him money. So that was our crazy experience for the day. But we are all ok!

But other than that, this week has been pretty normal. We had a special meeting this week for the District Leaders. So the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders all went to Wellington then the day after, the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leader for each zone meet with the District Leaders and pass on information for the missionaries. So we had one of those meetings this week. Also, I was able to do my first interview for a baptismal candidate! That was a really neat experience. The Elders are having a baptism this Saturday for an eight year old boy named Darius. Neither of his parents are members but his auntie and uncle are. And his mom encouraged him to be baptized so that was a really neat experience. 

Saturday we had a sports afternoon. That was good. We invited the members of the Branch and specifically those who were less active. We didn't have too many less active members come but we did have one member bring a friend so we called it a success! But later that day, and ever since, I have been really sore. It was the most sports I had played for probably over six months. And I wore the new shoes you sent so I got a blister or two from breaking them in! But by now, I am feeling almost all the way back to normal. 

Well that is about all for this week. I hope things are well at home! I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Burnham

P.S. A bit of a celebration photo for my one year mark! Ginger "Beers"! (New Zealand- ginger flavored soda)