Feb. 2, 2014

Hello family!

This has been another great week! Wednesday was a pretty exciting day. We had district meeting in the morning. It was about an hour drive from here in a city called Fielding. President and Sister Kezerian were at the district meeting. It was really good. We all had interviews with President, which happens every other transfer. In the interview, we were to give a three minute lesson. I was pretty nervous teaching a lesson to the mission president but he was a "golden investigator" and was super awesome. I think I did an ok job considering how nervous I was. President also dropped a couple of hints. He said that my companion has been in this area a long time and he won't be here forever so I need to learn the area, know all the members and love the ward. He said that someday the mission will need my leadership. So from that it sounds like I will be staying here for probably two or more transfers after this one. I think after this transfer I will be training a new missionary here for two transfers. Of course this is all speculation but that is what it sounds like to me. He also said that my tie looked good, so thanks mom for the awesome ties you sent at Christmas!

After District meeting, we got drive-thru McDonald's and then dropped off the other Elders. Then we went to the hospital. A few days previous to this, my companion had gotten a bug bite on his leg. It started to swell up real bad and get real red. He thought nothing of it until it started to get really painful. After District meeting when Sister Kezerian saw it, she said he needed to go to the doctor. So we get to the hospital and we find out that he got a bite from a white tail. It is one of NZ's only venomous spiders. And that the bite got infected. That is the real danger from these spiders because the bites from them often get infected, it isn't the venom itself. So they gave him a prescription for some amoxycillin and sent him on his way. Later that night, the scab that was on the top of the bite broke and, well to not go into too much detail, it started draining. That was really gross. So that was something exciting for the week!

I got a haircut from one of the members in the ward last P-day. He is a Samoan so I got a Samoan hair cut. It is real short on the sides and longer on the top. Pretty much, I look like a military man. But it isn't too bad. It has grown out enough that it looks pretty much normal now. On Friday, we were going to a lesson but it fell through. So then we were going to contact some potential investigators around that area. My companion was going to bunny hop on his bike onto the curb but didn't quite get all the way on and hit is bike tire on the curb and popped his tire. So we had to walk about an hour back to the flat so that we could get it all fixed up. When we got to the flat, we saw that the hole in his tube way far too big to patch so we had to walk for a little while. I now have some good blisters on the back of my heel. Not too painful though. The shoes that I got from Mr. Mac are falling apart on the inside and that is what gives me blisters. So don't buy Johnston and Murphey shoes, they are not that great! The Ecco shoes are still doing great. 

Funny story. The other day we were walking back from a lesson (because we hadn't fixed the bike yet) and there was a goat that was in someone's front yard. I walked past it and it kinda surprised me because it was big and it was sticking it's head over the gate. Then my companion looked and it totally scared him! He wasn't expecting it at all and he jumped like a foot in the air! It was really funny because he had the hiccups and that scared him but then made us laugh really hard so his hiccups just kept getting worse. It was funny. It is a fairly odd thing for people to have goats in their yard like that but it isn't totally uncommon. 

Well I think that is about it for the week, nothing too exciting. I hope things are going well. I am doing pretty well! Time is sure flying! This transfer is already halfway gone! Hope you all have fun with a possible little family gathering in the coming weeks! Love you lots!

Love,
Elder Burnham

A little background info on this additional note from Derek.  The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints across California united together today to fast and pray for more rain and snow in the next weeks and months due to the anticipated drought. And he has not met his niece Kara as she was born after he went to New Zealand. - Pauline

Things are going great! It was a pretty good week. We fasted and prayed for moisture for California as well. Sounds like things are slowly getting a little better. It might not be good if you get too much rain all at once, could cause some flash flooding or something! I'm sure things will all work out though! Sounds like some exciting family stuff going on soon! Is Jacob going with you guys to Boise? Gonna miss some school? Remind me again, Kara is said "care-uh" or "car-uh"? I can't remember, mostly because I haven't really heard it or said it much haha I feel bad though because I should remember the name of my nieces! 

Things are going great with my companion! Sometimes he runs out of patience with the ward members and stuff but never any problems with me! He told me that in his interview with President, President said "You deserve Elder Burnham, he is a great Elder!" So I guess he has a bit of a reward for some tough work he has done here! It is a great compliment to me that President views me like that! I am sure I will get a tough comp somewhere along the way but I hope not soon! Maybe I will get lots of tough ones because I would maybe be able to help them, who knows! 

I am looking forward to the photos! It is always fun to have those come in! Hope things are going great! Love you too!!!

January 26, 2014

Hello family!

This has been another good week on the mission. Nothing too exciting this week. We were going to have a lesson with one of the investigators here but then 3 of his friends came in and were swearing and smoking and talking about how they were going to drink until they couldn't drink anymore that night. It was kinda a bummer of a lesson. We just told them we had other places we needed to go and left. They also said that the investigator, Jacob, drinks with them all the time. That was kinda a bummer because he has a baptismal date for the 1st of March. It is looking like that is unlikely now. It is a bummer to see that happen but I guess it just isn't his time. We are going to do all we can to get him away from those friends but it is all up to him.

One highlight from the week was that we got to take a little road trip to go to district meeting this week. We went to a little town called Waiouru. It is about 150 km from here. When I say little town, I really mean little. There is an army base there and that is the majority of the population. The elders that cover that town knocked on almost every door they were allowed to knock in one day. They have a little church building there for the branch that pretty much is just an above average size house. It looked like there were about 20 members in the branch and that is from Waiouru and a couple of other bigger towns around. So the reason we had District meeting there was so that we could help them out with a car wash they were having there, kinda like the one we had in my last area. The car wash went on for about 3 hours and a whopping total of 3 cars showed up... kinda sad but that is what I expected. But the town itself is in a really beautiful part of the country. Hopefully the picture I attach will show up on your computers. It is near the base of a large mountain called Mt. Ruapehu. It is a volcano but I don't think it is very active. I heard the last time it really erupted was 15 or so years ago and it was all just ash. It is kinda weird though because it is just this random huge mountain in the middle of mostly flat land. It isn't part of a mountain range like most mountains are. But very cool to see some more of the country and to go somewhere different. District meeting this week is closer. But we are going to be having a couple visitors, the mission president and his wife! Kinda nervous to sit down with President and have interviews but I am excited to see him. We didn't seem him often in my last area and probably won't in this area either. We have to present a 3 minute lesson to him as well. I hope my teaching is up to standard!!

I bought another 2 short sleeve shirts so you don't need to worry about finding any more. They were only 20 dollars each so I figured why not? Things are going great with me and Elder Farnsworth. The reason he didn't get along with his last companion was mostly, if not all, the other Elder, not him. I don't think we will have any issue getting along! Also, from the hints that President is giving Elder Farnsworth and me through email, it sounds like he will be leaving at the end of this transfer and I will run the area. I trying really hard to learn quickly my way around town and all the member's names and stuff. It is kinda hard sometimes though!

Well I hope all is going well and that maybe you get some rain! We got soaked last night on our bikes! The saying on the mission is the more your badge gets wet, the cuter your future wife will be! Sounds like good motivation for some missionaries to get out there and work! I am doing well and trying to follow the counsel of President when he said that too many missionaries are complaining about gaining weight so they need to eat higher quality food and less food in general and bike more. We are certainly biking more but that is because we are over our milage amount....

Well I love you all and hope things are going great!!!!

Love,
Elder Burnham

January 20, 2014

Kia Ora Whanau!!!

Well I am safely in my new area!!! It is a neat little town right on the Tasman sea with a river running through the middle. The name of the town is Wanganui but some people spell it Whanganui but it is said the same way. I think that the decision by President to put me here was a little bit of a last minute decision. My companion, Elder xxxxxxx from xxxxxxx, had a pretty rough companion last transfer. Many times they did not get along. It ended up often with the old missionary not talking to him for a couple hours. So far we haven't had any problems with our companionship. I think President put me here to help out my new companion. He has been through lots of tough stuff as a missionary, with the work, the ward, and companions. But we are excited to get started working again! 

One crazy thing that happened this week was that there was an earthquake! And the center was like 50 km from my last area! And we felt it all the way out here, much farther than 50 km from the epicenter. It was pretty mild here but it was out of it to feel the ground move like that under your feet. it kinda felt like being on a shaky elevator but not actually moving. It was a 6.3 I heard. Here it only lasted for a couple of minutes, maybe 5 at the longest. Still exciting to be in my first ever earthquake!

There are lots of great people here but the ward is kinda struggling. There are many people who in some way or another were offended to the point where they don't want to come back to church. That is pretty sad. We have a few investigators, but none of them are truly that golden one that we want. The like having us over but aren't really progressing much. The members kinda say they want to help but then don't actually end up doing much. Then they get upset with us because the investigators aren't integrated into the church. It is going to be a struggle to work here but it will be fun too! I am excited to all the new things that are in store. 

The last couple days in Masterton were pretty awesome. The highlight of those days was the trip to the Castlepoint beach. I will attach a photo or two of that area! Really awesome!!!
Well that is about all I have for this week. I don't really know much what to say other than I am a little nervous but also excited about the new area! Hope all is going well with you!!!

Elder Burnham

This is Castlepoint! We wanted to go up on that big cliff in the background but we didn't have enough time. This is one the East coast! Next week I will bring pictures from the West coast of NZ!

January 12, 2014

Well today is an exciting day! The p-day before transfers is always exciting. So earlier in the week, we were on exchanges with the Zone Leaders so I was not in my area. When I got back to my area, my companion informed me that he got a call earlier that morning that he was going to be training! So at that point, I pretty much KNEW that I was going to be leaving. He later got some training materials and it was confirmed that he was going to be training. So today I found out that I am going to be leaving and my companion is going to be staying here! I am going to be going to serve in Wanganui. It is about a 6 hour bus ride north-west of here. It is right on the west coast. I am not too sure much about it but what I have heard from my companion and the Zone Leaders and the other Elders in the district. I am excited and nervous and sad for this new transfer. I am sad to be leaving this area because it is such an amazing area but I know that where I am called to go is where I am supposed to go! My new companion's name is Elder Farnsworth. I have never met him before. So yeah that is about all I know for transfers. I am pretty sure I will be leaving on Wednesday. One of the other Elders in the district, Elder Jacobson is also leaving. He is from the same intake as me and he is going to be a District Leader! And 2nd phasing a trainee. So I am relieved I don't have to do that! But yeah I am excited!
This week has been a great week and I am excited because today we are going out to Castlepoint Beach. It is real windy today so we are going to get sandblasted but it will still be fun! A good way to end the transfer. Also, one of the sisters is ending her mission this transfer so while this isn't supposed to be a going away party, half the district is leaving. I will let you know how that goes and send some pictures next week! Something exciting that happened this week was that my bike got a flat tire! I say it that way because I wasn't riding it when I got a flat. We were on exchanges and I was riding my companions bike because it is smaller than mine and the other Elder is bigger than me. That was pretty fun to get to walk all the way back to the flat to get it fixed. We were all the way on the other side of town! But it all worked out because our appointments fell through or were postponed. We then had a lesson with Michael. He is doing well but is still comfortable with his present faith. I am hopefully going to be able to use the transfer as leverage to urge him to be baptised! 

Well that is about all that is exciting this week. I am going to be saying my goodbyes to the members and investigators the next couple days. I hope you guys are staying warm. Everybody here is telling us that it is FREEZING in the whole United States. Some polar vortex or something like that. Love you lots!!!
Love,

Elder Burnham

P.S. McDonald's is everywhere!

January 5, 2014

Dear Family,

This week has been a pretty good one! Right now we are in Lower Hutt, closer in to Wellington, at the start of our exchanges. This time, I drove "over the hill" and all is well! Pretty weird that it isn't weird to me anymore driving on the wrong side of the road. 

So New Years on a mission is pretty uneventful. We actually were told to go back to the flat early because it is just too dangerous with all the people doing crazy things. So we got KFC for dinner and went back to the flat at like 7:30. Did some writing in my journal that night and just hang out. Maybe even went to sleep early, I don't really remember. But we did set an alarm for 11:55 but we just slept haha We were tired. On New Years day we were invited to a BBQ by a member family from Auckland who were visiting some family. They made some real good food and of course, I ate too much. There really hasn't been many too exciting things this week. We got permission to go our to Castlepoint again but we are having trouble finding a family who can take all 6 of us missionaries. We have a couple who could take just us but we want it to sorta be a district thing. Transfers are next week and that P-day would be when we would go. So I will let you know next week what is going on with that. I really have no clue what my companion or I will be doing but there isn't much time to worry about it, just gotta work! 

On Saturday we went down to the other elder's area, Martinborough. It is a nice little town, but little for sure. And most of the houses and stuff there are holiday homes so there are a lot of people who don't care to listen because they are on vacation. We just did a lot of finding that day. When you do a lot of finding, you meet a lot of odd people. A lot of cool people too though. I will share a couple experiences. The first is when me and my companion split up with the other Elders. So I was with Elder Uasila'a and we were just door knocking. We asked this lady if she wanted to hear a message and she just said "sure, take a seat." We were pretty surprised but just hopped into sharing the Restoration. When we started talking about prophets she said "hold on a second, I just need to get my daughter." We were really excited and were like "YES BRING MORE!!!!" So we started talking more about prophets and the Restoration. Then we got started talking a bit about the Plan of Salvation. She had heard a lot of different things from other Churches about what happens after death but she was really excited when she heard what we believed. We left her and her daughter with a Book of Mormon and a couple of booklets on the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. It was really cool to have a doorstep lesson like that! The next neat experience was with me and my companion. We went to the home of an older couple we met the last time we were in Marty. We talked for a bit, she gave us some Christmas cake that wasn't my favorite, and then as we were leaving, she gave us this little wooden dowel things that her husband had made. They were grocery bag holders! So you put the bags on the holder then just carry the holder. Pretty awesome! A couple minutes after we left, we saw an older woman carrying some groceries. So my companion went over to her with Elder Uasila'a and gave her the thing! It was really cool to see the smile on that lady's face. Another time, me and my companion were door knocking and we met this woman who had just moved back to NZ after getting a divorce. She previously lived in Indiana. She wasn't too interested but she referred us to another house who had three German shepherds. So we went to the house. And there was a car parked in the drive: Aston Martin DB7. And this guy got to sit in it! Pretty awesome! They weren't interested though. So while we were there we got a call from one of the members of the Bishopric up in Masterton saying that he bought us ice cream at the dairy. We had seen him and the other counselor of the bishopric and a less active member in the car just a couple minutes ago and they said that they would get us ice cream but it sounded like they said they were kidding then just drove off haha but they were serious so we enjoyed some yummy ice cream! The last experience is a sorta funny and weird one. Me and the other missionary, Elder Jacobsen, were door knocking. We are both in the same intake. So we were on the right side of the street and on the left side of the street was a group of like 6-8 people all drinking and smoking. We got to the last house on the right side of the street and then went over to the other side of the street. We had no intention of really talking to them but we couldn't ignore them so we had to acknowledge them. A couple of the women were particularly drunk. And they started hitting on us saying we were "so gorgeous" and asked us "why we weren't married already." That just made us laugh. So Elder Jacobsen gave them a Word Of Wisdom pamphlet. That was really funny because they could hardly read so we were thinking they would wake up in the morning, be really hungover, and read that and just laugh! But yeah that was an interesting experience. 

Yesterday we had Michael come to church with us again. He really enjoys when he comes. This time he said that he "really felt God speaking to me."
We were so excited when he said that. He is really close to being baptized but we are still looking for that one thing that will put him over the edge. We are going to try our very hardest to set a baptismal date this week before one of us leaves (possibly).
Well that is about all that is exciting for me this week. Sounds like some fun things going on back at home. Congratulations to the Chapman brothers on deciding to serve a mission! I think one of my roommates friends is serving down there but I don't think either of those missions. Elder Fowers (my roommate) is serving in the El Dorado Hills Ward!!!! So if you see him around, tell him I say hi! I was really excited to hear that from him! Maybe he will go on exchanges and serve in our ward for a day or something! Congrats to Greg and Aurora on the new car as well. Something a little more practical for the snow and a family huh? haha better get out to the lake before it rains! I would totally try to walk out to Mormon Island! That is crazy!!! Well I love you all and hope you are having a great time!!!!!

Love,
Elder Burnham

December 29, 2013

Hello again family!

Well the rest of this week wasn't too exciting. Not as exciting as Christmas at least. On Friday we had another lesson with Michael. He is our top investigator right now. The lesson on friday was about the plan of salvation. It actually didn't go that well. It didn't really have any flow and the Spirit wasn't really there but then Michael asked a really good question. We had said that he could be with his whole family again. The Bishop shared his testimony of the plan of salvation and how he felt when the missionaries taught him about the plan of salvation. The bishop shared that his grandmother, who had brought him up, had passed away. Michael then asked the bishop how his family could be together if his grandmother had not been baptised. That was a cool experience to talk a little but more about temples and baptisms for the dead. We had another lesson with Michael on Saturday night. This lesson was really good. We had gone up to Mt. Bruce with the Bishop to talk to the recent convert there but he ended up being busy. On the way back we started talking about Michael and I thought we really needed to share about the gift of the Holy Ghost. We decided to stop at his house and to see if he was there. When we knocked on the door, he had the Book of Mormon in his hand, he was reading it! That was really cool. We began the lesson and started talking about the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. I had the thought in my mind that we should set a date with him to be baptised but I pushed the thought out of my mind. Then a minute or two later the bishop started talking about it! Then I jumped in with it too! I knew then that the Spirit had prompted me to talk about setting a date. When we were talking about the possibility of Michael getting baptised, he just broke down in tears of joy! He is always expressing how blessed he feels that he has met us. He told us that he would tell us today if he was ready to be baptised. It was really really exciting! The bishop told Michael he thought that he should be baptised this week! So we left that lesson feeling very good. Then he came to church with us the next morning. Us and the sisters spoke and the sisters did a really really good job! And they talked about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Pretty neat. We then had a lesson with him later on Sunday night. Just us this time though. We were really bold with him and asked him what he thought of baptism. He told us that he wasn't ready yet. It was pretty disappointing but mostly just because of how happy and excited we were the previous night. We are hoping that even if one of us leaves in the next transfer, which is in two weeks, he will still be baptised by other missionaries. We just have to be patient. he is just a little reserved about leaving his Catholic faith. Which is understandable because he is 29 and has been going all his life. But yeah that is just about the most exciting stuff that has happened this week. I made tacos today for lunch which is why I am emailing a little later. They were real good! And Elder Christensen loved them too! I got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa B so I am thinking I need to write them back as soon as possible. I will send a couple of pictures of Christmas food and stuff., Hope you are all having a great week! Happy New Years!!!!!!!
Love,

Elder Burnham

December 22, 2013

Dear Whanau! (That's family in Maori!)

Merry Christmas!!!! It is weird to me that it is Christmas time because it is HOT here. Not like warm but hot. On Saturday we had a missionary car wash. I decided since we were washing cars that it would be a good idea to wear my flip flops (here they are called "jandals"). The car wash went really well, we had about 20 cars come through. We held it at the Chapel so that we could offer tours and DVDs and such to help out with our missionary efforts. Most people were not too interested, but would take a DVD or something and make a donation to the Church. There was something that was really cool that happened. There was a young woman who was walking down the street and she just started talking to the Sisters. I guess she was pretty interested because she took a Book of Mormon and hung out with the sisters for another hour or so at the car wash. She said she was going to come to church tomorrow but something came up and she wasn't able to come. But still a really solid potential for the sisters, and a miracle for sure! So back to my smart decision  of wearing sandals, just check out the picture I will attach. I guess that is what happens when you spend a couple hours in the sun...it doesn't hurt as bad as it looks though.

Yesterday we went carolling at a rest home. Our investigator Michael was the one who set it up for us because he works there! We had about 20 members come and we split into two groups and went around singing to the old people there. They really enjoyed it and so did I! It kinda reminded me of singing in Chamber at Oak Ridge. After we were done singing, they had afternoon tea for us in a reception hall sort of thing. That was super awesome. It was good for Michael too because he got to work with the Bishop to get it all organized. It for sure made him feel more welcome in the ward. He came to church with us yesterday, along with 4 other of our investigators, the most we have ever had! I guess that is what Christmas time will do! They all really enjoyed it and so did we. 

The other day we were biking around and we decided to make a quick stop at the secondhand shop so I could look for a suit! I tried a couple on and picked a sweet one out. I will send a picture of it too! It is a dark blue color and has some sweet buttons on it! I also went the other day into the store in town called Farmers and got myself a Christmas gift. They had some dress slacks that were 50% off so I got two nice pairs of slacks for $70! It was a really good deal! I just hope they hold up to the assault of my bike seat! So now I have some clothes to wear! I am still thinking I can fix the two black suit pants with some patches, just haven't found the time to do it yet. That is pretty much my excitement for the week. Nothing too out of the ordinary this week though. We did go on exchanges this week so I spent a day in Carterton again with Elder Jacobsen who was in the same intake as me. It was a good day down there but an even better one for my companion up here. We had a lesson with an investigator, Owen. He seems to be doing really well now. I heard he opened up a lot more to the missionaries and shared more of his past. We are hoping to be able to meet with him again but we are having trouble getting a hold of him. 

Well we are all set for Christmas this week. We have a million places we can go and eat. We are probably going to explode from too much food. We have a set breakfast/brunch at 10 and a lunch at 2. We don't have anyone set for dinner which is good. I don't think we could handle three Christmas meals! 

Well that is about it for the week! I will send a couple more pictures that I took this week! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Love you lots!
Love,

Elder Burnham

                                                       Sunburned Feet

                     

                                                                 Suit with sweet buttons

                                 

                                      This is a dinner from Michael our investigator, yum! 

P.S.  From Derek's mom,  Derek wants to thank all who donated a tie.  He loves them and is grateful you gave one to him.  To the rest of you, Derek wanted more ties, so I had a few people donate their ties, not new ones so when he wore it he could say, this is a tie Dad wore or this is a tie Karl wore.  If you would like to have Derek wear your tie on his mission, add a comment and I can let you know where to send it.