You'll never guess where I am at.....

Guess where I am right now?!

Wesley chapel... Serving in the Tampa 2 ward, which probably means
nothing to you, but it's the ward that neighbors Odessa!! So we share
a building with them... How awesome is that?!

President is in our area... Holla :) this ward went from having two
sets of elders to now no elders but two sets of sisters!! :) they are
so sooo sooo excited to have sisters. Our ward mission leader is the
MAN. I LOVE HIM!!! He put us right to work.

Daddy!!! Guess where my companion is from?!
Allen Texas!!!! I LOVE HER!!!
She's so stinking cute, so pumped about the work... She has made me
more excited about it to. She's super happy all the time, so sweet. I
love her!! She was originally assigned to Brazil, so she will head
there when she gets her visa. She's a sweetheart.

I was so excited to be staying in Tampa in an area that's pretty
familiar. Kind of awesome. I will probs be here the rest of mission,
which is rad.

Dad you asked me forever ago if I knew the date, and I do. My return
date is like august 20th

Oh, since President is having all the new missionaries go out to do
metro their first couple days, we got to go to metro this weekend!!
Yay yay yay!! It was so so fun!! We got to ride the bus and contact,
which I hadn't done before it was fun. Passed out cards at the
lightning game, it was just really good. Downtown's got my heart,
excited to take y'all there!


This ward had a total (with both sets of missionaries) of 6 lessons
the week before we got here, sooo there's lots of work to get done :)
Itll be good. Sis Bailey is a super hard worker, so it'll be good!!!

We'll well well I have no time... Weird huh?!
Love you tons!!!
Sister Burton

See ya later, Metro :(‏

Okay everyone.... This was our faces when we found out the results of transfers.....

Sad :(

Sister Millard is training!! Just after 3 months.... (because she is a ROCKSTAR) She's gonna do so good. I'm gonna miss her so much though. We have had little moments all weekend where we look at each other and just start crying. I seriously love her so much! It'll be hard to leave her.

As for me, I'll be going to a new area (they don't tell me where until tomorrow) and be training a new sister too. AH!!!! Not knowing where I'm going kinda makes me nervous. So does training. Ah. But it will be good. 

Saying bye to the ward was rough, not as bad as last time though. I only cried a couple times... the Lewis's. MAN I will miss them SO stinking much. They've been like my mom and dad here. I seriously think the world of them. Their oldest just got her call to Portugal this week! I love them so much. I will really miss them. 

Ummmm stories for this week?!

Uhhh... I was sick at the begginning. But I'm getttin better!! 

I literally have no time to email, I'm so sorry (probs no personal emails today... SO sorry friends :))

I wish I could remember what happened. OH cool story. Weds we had a lesson with this lady who recently lost her 23 year old son. She is so sad :(. We said a prayer for her. Earlier that day in my personal prayer I had prayed to have my testimony of the plan of salvation strenghtened... Boy does He answer prayers! :) While we were saying this prayer with this lady I could literally feel angels in that living room. Her boy was there, there was no doubt in my mind. Such a neat experience. 

Friday we went out contacting as usual. Talked to this guy for about five min, said he wasnt big into religion, too much hypocricy, just a short little contact. The next morning we had a voicemail on our phone from him. He had checked out mormon.org and said "Okay, I wanna know more about this mormon thing, can we meet up?". Yes sir, yes we can meet up. It was just SO stinking cool, cause he was the last person we thought would get back to us. YAY. We never know who's prepared... but God does. That's why we just gotta open our mouths and invite EVERYONE :)

Testimony time! :)

Man. I love being a missionary. I feel like the things I've learned in Metro are going to bless me for the rest of my life. I know that the Spirit is what makes this Work work. He leads us, helps us know what to say, and he teaches the people. I have LOVED spending everyday with this badge on, walking on the streets of downtown Tampa, and inviting everyone I see to experience the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have this opportunity here. Downtown Tampa will always have a special place in my heart.I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU GUYS THIS PLACE! :) 

This ward taught me so much too. Man. All these cute little families make me so excited to be a momma and a wife someday. They have taught me a ton. I love them. Wanna be like them someday. Such good, strong, faithful families. Hard to leave.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Sister Burton

Hey y'all :)

This week was super good!! Ask me if I'm typing y'all this message on
my new IPAD?!? Holla:)

Well this week was good.

Johnson ( the one from Nigeria) is still the funniest person ever. We
had a cool lesson with him this week all about the Book of Mormon. He
really likes to question things... But we used a scripture from the
bible that talks about the Book of Mormon, and he couldn't say a
thing. The Spirit was strong.

Srujan ( the one from indiA) is soooo cool. I LOVE teaching him. He
said he knows the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a
prophet! He agreed to get baptized if he gets answers to his prayers
about God being there. Man I love him so much!

I told you about the mom and daughter right?! Man they are the best.
Mom agreed to get baptized and has a date set for March 22. Daughter
will hopefully have a date too this week! They are so so so so funny!!

Jacob and Blake!!! You're birthdays are this week!!! Oh my goodness!!
You are gettin so stinking old. 16 jake?! Who's your first date gonna
be with?! Tell me everything :)

I love you all so so so much!!! :) have a good week!!!

Pics:

SO MUCH IS GOING ON.... I think the work is hastening :)‏

Seriously, I feel like there are so many flipping awesome things going on right now. SERIOUSLY.I don't think I've been this happy in my whole life. 

Wednesday we got invited to MLC, so we went (duh) and it was INCREDIBLE. The best training I think I've ever had. We had two people from the missionary department come and train us.... (cause we're getting ipads... tomorrow!!... ya that's right)  They taught us how to be better teachers and MAN is it helping SO much. I feel like imma brand new missionary learning all over again. We found 6 new investigators... we TRIPLED our goal! Heavenly Father is blessing us SO much!!! 

Everyone keeps talking about this sense of "urgency" to share the gospel, hasten the work and whatnot. I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't quite feeling it... just kinda going about the usual routine. But after this week BOY AM I FEELING IT!!! This work is ROLLING. Seriously. This is God's work and it's hastening. 

Lemme tell ya bout some of the ppl we found this week. 

Johnson (real name is like Ugochuku... he's from Nigeria... west Africa for those of you... like me... who don't know where that is). HE IS THE FUNNIEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET. Seriously. He is SO sarcastic, and so funny. Sis Millard and I were cracking up. He's really interested too! I met him 2 weeks ago on a mini metro exchange, then sis M and i met up with him this week, and he wants to meet up again. He is a student at UT. He is seriously so funny. And it's super fun to teach him cause we can be extra bold with him, cause it fits his personality. He's the man.

We contacted a referral, and it ended up bein a mom and 15 year old daughter. Ty (the daughter) was soooooo shy during the lesson. I just kept thinking about how good young womens would be for her... How much I wanted her to see that she was a daughter of God, and what that means. I felt so much love for her so fast. Goodness. I've never taught a teenager before. It was neat. We are meeting with them again this week!!

There is so stinking much to tell you!!! This week was so solid!

OKAY. GET THIS. This whole online thing is SO stinking inspired it KILLS ME!! Soooo we met this guy on Bayshore... (the prettiest road in all of tampa... i'm obsessed) while we were cleaning up trash one day after the parade about 3 weeks ago. I think I told you that already. Anyways, so we meet this guy who lives in Brandon, asks where church is. We get his email so we can send him the address. So we email him the addresses along w/ a video from mormon.org... He writes us back and tells us how inspiring it is. Asks what the difference between mormon and baptists is... "LET ME TELL YOU!!"... restoration right?....

soooooo we send him a brief overview of lesson one along with another mormon.org video about Joseph Smith with L. Tom Perry. He said back " the video is amazing ! i didn't know this existed , it makes me wonder and want to know more!" 

He wants to meet with us this week!!! HOLLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is so prepared it is blowing my mind!!!

Okay, last one then i promise i'll keep it down :)

SOOOOOO remember the family I told you about like 3 months ago that we met outside the strip mall having a bday party and invited us to come and eat cupcakes with them?! Well anyways one of them is a 23 year old girl, super sweet. I had friended her on FB, talked a few times, but then she like deleted me... (sad day, right?). SO THEN Sis Millard needed a haircut today, so we went to get it done. The receptionist turned out to be her!!!!! She came and gave me a huge hug, her new FB account (she had deleted her old one), and her phone number. She said she has been having a rough time, feeling really down and confused, and that she prayed this morning on her way to work for some help. She said she knows that it was no coincidence that we came in today, she knows it was God. I can't wait to start teaching her!!! 

MAN!!! I feel like things are going so good, time is going so fast. I am just LOVING every minute, trying to soak it all up. 

Bro. Lewis (our WML) is seriously the MAN. I feel like he's my dad here. I love him SO MUCH. He makes me miss you dad! 

Hermana Snow and Graves moved in with us... so we aren't doin Metro motel very much anymore, which is totes good, cause now we can focus on our investigators more!!! Annnd I love them, I haven't laughed so hard. hahahaha they are so fun!!! 

I LOVE THIS WORK. It's so true. It's seriously the most important thing in the world. I'm so glad I'm here. 

I love you all so so so so so much!!!

Sister B. 

Welcome to the Metro Hotel

This week was so good!!

Monday-Wednesday we had 3 sets of sisters in our apt... Pres is trying to get all the sisters down here.

Sister Mortensen came!!... I dont know if i ever told you about her. She was the first sister i went on exchanges when i got here... reminds me tons of Melanie Klingler. I LOVE HER. She was like my mom when i first came out. It was so nice to see her!! :)

Thursday-Sat we had a trio and a companionship staying with us. Sister Costagnio from RExburg.... SHE IS A HOOT!! So fun!!

We moved in to our new apt on Saturday.... Carried all our stuff up three flights of stairs... don't worry bout it... we've been liftin wieghts. ;) Man, we were exhausted. It was great.

MAN we had the craziest sacrament meeting yesterday. This guy went up at the very begininng... no one knew who he was, and he started talking about CRAZY stuff. I'm talking straight CRAY. X and Y chromosomes, Mary and Joseph... who knows. Anyways, Bishop hadta get up and stop him. 

So after that... the Spirit was totes gone... obvs. But no need to fear, the cutest little eight year old boy like sobbed and bore his testimony about the Savior... THEN the hermanas investigator... who only speaks spanish got up and bore his testimony. I couldn't understand a word of what he said... but the Spirit was SO stinking strong. I was crying likea baby. Then our WML got up and bore his testimony in spanish, then the Stake pres... Man it was awesome. 

I feel like our Indian investigator is teaching me SO SO SO much. He said the closing prayer again, and i teared up. He's so great. He told us that he since he's been meeting w/ us, reading, and praying, that "I dont feel so sad at the end of the day... I'm more happy, and I feel hopeful." AHH!!! He is so great. 

We are meeting tons of people, contacting all day long. Its superb. I have never been so tired in my whole entire life... Like really tired. I feel like i could probs sleep for four days straight. But its all good :) I love it. 

I love you all so so so so much!!! Hey, Family... send me your favorite color por favor :) I will try to send that video out today mom! I love you!! 

OHHHH new address!!!

502 S Fremont #816

Tampa, FL 33606 

Love you!!! 

The BofM is my Favorite!!

Oh hello hello!! :)

This week was stellar. 

Tuesday two sisters and their trainee come stay with us. It was so much fun! I went out with the new sister, (who is the Nadauld's in our wards cousin!!) We went to this baseball game and talked to this guy. He loves mormons! He said that he got a blessing once, and he's been to church twice. He was with his little granddaughter. She was so cute!! Sis N was talking to the guy and I was talking to her and she said "I just want to talk to you forever, but I know you're going to have to leave, so i'm just gonna talk really fast" She was like talking at 100 miles an hour. She was so cute! Drew us pictures :) They should be at church next Sunday!!!

OH MY HECK WEDNESDAY!!!

SO rad. Weds, we had a lesson with our investigator from India. The Spirit is working on him, it's SO stinking cool. So, our lesson this week was on faith. We read Alma 32 together. We got to verse 21, the one that explains what faith is, and he said..."Woah, that was for me." IT WAS SO COOL!! Even though he doesn't have a Christian background, and doesn't really understand the BofM, the Spirit was able to teach him something!! He is starting to see God's hand in his life, and to believe in him. He knows he needs to increase his faith. He's so great! He's coming to church this Sunday!!! YAY!

Our ward mission leader is the man. Seriously. He works so hard for us. I love him! He reminds me of dad... which always makes me cry, cause then I miss him. But thats fine :)

Saturday we had a conference with Elder Kapischke (70) and President Thompson. It was SO SO SO SO SOOOOO good. Man. The Spirit was so strong. There's so much I needta work on! Woo!

Then Sat night was Stake conference in... ODESSA!! :) so that was super fun being able to see everybody!! I love that ward :)

This weekend was this big festival nonsense here in Tampa called Gasperilla, celebrating something about the pirates or something. Anyways, there was TONS of garbage everywhere... beer cans and cups and yuckies, so we went out w/ trash bags last night and cleaned up. It was really fun :) we havent done service inna while, so it was super fun to be able to do that!!

This week we have 2 groups of Sisters from the mission coming in to stay with us! We have six coming to stay with us tonight, and another set on Thurs. Should be a good time!! 
We haven't moved yet, so you can just keep sending mail to this address. If we do move, it'll still be a missionary apt, so I'll get it :) 

Well I love you all so so so so much!!! Hope you have a stellar week! :) I love you!!!

Sister Burton

1/20/14

Another great week in Florida!

 We had the neatest miracle this week!! We went on Thursday night splits with the ward like two months ago, and I went to visit this less active. She wasn't home... but we left our number and tried to call her a few times with no answer. She text us on Tuesday morning out of the blue and asked if we could come over. We dropped by, and her daughter (who isn't a member, but has taken the lessons before) was there. Sister Heredia said that she was ready to come back to church and the daughter said she wants to take the lessons again. Sister Millard and I just looked at each other with the biggest smiles in the world! That one was just kinda handed to us, we are so excited about them! The daughter is super cute,17, and plays volleyball (I thought of tabes). She's suppa cool.

Hmmm I'm trying to think of what else exciting happened...

Uhhhh....

Oh! President has this suups cool idea about having new missionaries come here to Metro their first 3 days in the mission field. So they will all stay in our apartment. Like a little missionary hotel. :) we're getting bunk beds and all sorts of fun stuff. Cool huh?! It should be super fun. They'll all be here tomorrow. We're excited!!! 

Umm i honestly cant really remember anything else. 

OH! my apartment will change this weekend, so I will give you my new address on monday. It's the same complex, justa different unit, so if ya send anything today or tomorrow, should be fine :)

Today is my 11 month mission birthday and sis millard's two month... I think we'll be getting some ice cream later today to celebrate :) haha. cant believe its been that long. 

Ummmm. I got nothin else.

It's been kinda cold lately... Well cold for here. Pretty sure I've already turned into a wimp. I freeze here. 

This ward is SO stinking great. Seriously. I love it. So many cute, fun, young families. I LOVE ALL THE KIDS!!! It's fun. 

Mom, seriously you are the best! You're such an example to me! Thanks for your email this week!!

I love you all so so so much!!! Have a good week. Sorry for the sporadic email!

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Sister B