Hello Hello, From Florida!!!

Well well well, this week was just so great! 

PICTURES!!

#1 Our district at the MTC... THE BEST

#2 Me and my boy Mo. Isnt he the cutest?? I LOVE the kids here!! :)

#3 Us with Audry and some of the cast of her show... She is the best!! She loves taking care of us :) I love her SO much!!!

FINALLY some pictures huh?! Sorry it took so long... I dont understand technolgy... :) hahaha.

This week was so good! We found a new investigator!!! We were riding along bikin it up to a member's house, when Sis Daniels felt prompted to stop at a house. So we did, she invited us in couldnt stop saying how much she "needed this right now". We taught her lesson 1 and she loved it! she said the closing prayer, it was wonderful! the Spirit was so strong! It's amazing how much your own testimony grows when you teach and testify to others. I love it!! :) She is wonderful!! I'm excited to keep teaching her hopefully we will meet with her again tomorrow!! :) Her name is Yoshiko.

GUESS WHAT?! We went on splits last night and I was with a girl my age (Savannah-she's AWESOME)  and I taught my first street-contacting lesson!! There was a 15 year old boy named Reese out walkin his dog and we stopped to use his phone... hers had died. He asked tons of questions about the church. I gave him Lesson 1 summary, gave him a Book of Mormon, bore my testimony of it and had a prayer with him that he would be able to recognize the truth. IT WAS DOPE!! :) I was so excited to tell my trainer :) haha I felt like a little girl at school who wanted to run home and tell mom she got an A. ha :) I LOVE LOVE LOVE how Heavenly Father places us in the right places at the right times with the right people. His hand is so very much in our lives. I love being able to see His hand in my life as a missionary.

I love you all so so so very much. Daddy!! I hope you had a happy happy birthday yesterday!!! Saturday when we were riding bikes someone was driving in a corvette (a dad and son) all decked out in rangers jerseys and hats... was there a game?? I yelled go rangers :) dont fret, thought you'd be proud. :) Thanks for your letter again this week.

We had dinner at the Matthews last night. I'm obsessed with them. He reminds me SO much of Grandpa Young. I love him!! She has alzheimer's, but she still remembers how to play the piano and she LOVES it. So thats what we do with her when we go over. He's so good to her, it's adorable. Theyre the cutest. I love the members here!! Members really are where it's at for missionary work.

I love you all so much, but this computer keeps telling me it's going to shut down. I LOVE YOU!!!!!

SHort Email Ah

Well Hello Hello!!!

I love you all. Alot. But you see, I have NO time.

I love being a missionary. Alot. This week has been really good! We had lessons with THREE part member families. I love this ward, I love these people.

We got transfer calls on Saturday. All three of us are staying here. Woo hoo! This is Sis Williamson's last transfer, so you can best believe I'm gonna do everything I can to make it her best. :) She's great.

 

KATIE PARKER is married!!! I love her. I'll admit i gotta little teary getting her announcement. So exciting!! Give her a BIG hug for her please oh please!!

 

ALISA AND TABRIE. Thank you SO much for the packages, seriously made my whole week. I was SO happy! It means the world to me :) I love you!! Lis- I SCREAMED when I found the yellow skirt :) and the skirt works perfectly!! thanks so much :):) Tabes, the pictures are soooo cute. I'm obsessed. I miss you girls so much.

 

MOM! I'm so proud of you!!! you're the member that all the missionaries want ;). for real. You are the best!! I love you soooo much

 

DAD!! your letters make my week. I love you sooo so so so so much!!!

 

Being a missionary is the best and happiest thing in the world. I love it here. I love being a missionary. I love teaching and serving these people here in Florida. I see Heavenly Father's hand in so many ways every single day. I love Him and I love having Him guide me- I know I'm safe as long as I'm w/ Him :)

 

I really dont have any time and I'm really sorry! But I love you and I pray for ya'll every day!! thanks for everything you do for me! You're seriously the best. I love you!

 

ONE LOVE

Sister Burton

HELLO EVERYONE!!!

Mom! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGE. I dont think you understand how happy that made me all day long. :) Elder Scousen told me to tell you that you're a saint... he loved the toffee. Ha. There was a quote from conference that said "there are few things more powerful than the prayers of a righteous mother." wanna know who i thought of? well you, DUH. You're my mom :) But I can definitely feel your prayers and love even when I'm all the way over here. I love you so much!

 

DAD!!! your letters I swear couldn't come at a better time or be more of what I needta hear. You dont know how much I look forward to them and how much they mean to me. I love you.

 

Jake! I loved your letter sweet boy! Your little testimony made me cry :) you're a stud.

 

Blake! thanks for the Email. made me laugh :) sure love you!

 

Huey! I LOVE YOU!! theres 2 boys here that remind me of you. I miss you.

 

KY! I love getting things from you!!! You're bday is coming up!! :) I love you!

 

I'm going to get some pics developed today!! I'll send them all your way :)

 

transfers are next week! I'm excited to see what happens! :)

 

Could conference have been any better?! I think not. I was water works the whole Saturday- both sessions. I felt like they were talkin right to me. (yes mom, I'd LOVE the conference issue of the ensign :)). I lovvvved President Monson's last remarks when he said "weeping lasts only for a night, and then joy comes in the morning." :) and elder Bruce D. Porters talk. we are here on earth to be happy. Being here I've really come to realize that. Some people (including some missionaries) get sooo caught up in being busy, having a task they forget the whole reason we're here on this earth. TO FIND JOY!!! I love that! This gospel brings me SO much happiness, I wanna share that w/ every single person here in Odessa. I love it here guys. Russell M Nelson's talk got me SUPPA pumped about being a missionary. LETS GOOOOO!! :) Presidnt Eyrings talk was great too! I loved elder cardons talk about the Atonement and FORGIVING- I'm always working on that.

I hope ya'll know how much I love you. You're in my prayers everyday!! BE HAPPY :)

I LOVE YOU!

SISTER BURTON

April Fools!

Hello Family (and Best FRIENDS :))

 

Well, How are you?! How was your Easter?! Mine was very different that's for sure... I went Less-Active Hunting instead of Easter Egg Hunting. :) But hey, that's why I'm here, right?

 

I never know what to say in these letters, ha. So much goes on, but I dunno what to tell y'all. ((I say y'all ALL the time these days, so that's dope). ha. Ummm I love it here. I love GOING OUT, gettin stuff done, talking to everyone. Ask me if I like tracting tho... NOPE. Hate it. haha. It's real awk. But once again, that's why I'm here, right?

 

DAD. I couldnt love your letters more. I laughed my head off in the last one... You and your Rangers, Mom told me they were losing... You needta pray harder ;). You gotta new car... does that mean Carlos is gone? Poor guy. I do have an address thats more direct, if I dont get transfered (which I hope i dont... I LOVE THIS WARD) then I'll give it to ya;).

 

I'm jealous of you guys hanging out with grandma and grandpa young, I miss them alot. I always hang out with the grandma and grandpas in this ward cause they remind me of them :).

 

Grandma Jocko has been awesome at writin me, I love getting her letters. shes been sending chik fil a cards :) She's winning :). She always sends me what I needta hear too, good talks and stuff.

 

Louie and Audry are still investigating. They are so great. Louie told me that Audry said she wants to adopt me... so I might be staying here in Flordia ;). Ha. They are too cute. I seriously love them SO much. Like SOOOO much. He still hasnt prayed about the book of mormon yet, but we're hoping to get him to watch conference.

 

I'm doing good though :) practicing my patience;). But I love it here. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

 

I've been workin real hard on being a better studier. Can I tell you how much I love the Scriptures? SO MUCH. They seriously are the best thing ever. They make me so happy. I've learned soooo much from actually STUDYING them, not just reading them. Like how to apply them to my investigators and how to apply them to me. I love em. Personal study for an hour isnt long enough. So, that's my invitation to you (since im a missionary now, I'm all about inviting). Don't just read them, FEAST UPON them. It doesnt needta be like tons of reading, like today i spent 20 minutes on ONE VERSE, and I loved it. It helps you get the Spirit with you so quick and can make you so so happy. I love it. and i love you :)

 

Have a happy happy week! Are you so excited for conference? I'm like legit looking foward to it! Like so excited. I've gotta bunch of questions i cant wait to be answered. I love you all thanks for loving me even though imma goob ;)

 

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Megs/ Sister Burton

Tuesday Talk!

HELLO FAMILY!!! I LOVE YOU ALL :)

 

Daddy, Thanks for the letter! I LOVE THEM. I cant tell you enough how happy they make me. I love them. Momma! It's your BDAY this week!!!! I am gettin you a card today, so it'll be late, just know I didnt forget :) I love you. Your emails I always look forward to! They crack me up!

Mom, you're awesome, can I just tell you how much the sisters LOVE you. Wanna know how I know? because I love the members here who help us like you do to them. Keep helping them out, they need it :) the members make such a big difference, and the members here are AWESOME. 

I love Florida. Alot. I love the people here. HOLY COW.

 

Guess what?! We have three new investigators. Two of them are a couple who have moved here from New York. You know the show I used to watch, "Say Yes to the Dress?" on TLC?!  Yeah, Audry? That's the wife. We're teaching her!... A bunch of the cast was up here on Monday and we taught them. STINKING COOL EH?! (dont fret, I got pics) Louie is the husband. We found him last Saturday on our bikes. He is the best. He cracks me up all the time. He calls us his "nuns" hahahaha. Seriously the sweetest and funniest guy ever. He swears all the time and whatnot, but he's such a good guy. We get along SO good. He's always teasin me cause I'm the young one. I love him SO much! They are wonderful, and even stopped to help us on our bikes the other day. She said she told him to turn around and said "those are our girls." :) I love them. He was really interested (like bouncing off his seat ha) in the idea of having a living prophet, and he was able to listen to some of President Monson's talks, and he enjoyed them. He is reading the Book of Mormon right now. It's so fun and exciting to see his countance changing. She is not as into it as he is, but she definitely listens and agrees with alot of the things we have to say. They don't completely understand the Spirit, so that's something we are going to focus on this week. They are a joy. I love them, like with all my heart. Oh my word I love them.  
Our other investigator is the wife of a member. She is the sweetest lady and such a good mom. They are such a nice couple. We were able to go to dinner with them last night, and committed them to pray together as a couple every night. She has a testimony of the Priesthood and its power, as she was given a blessing when she was pregnant with her girl. We are planning to teach lesson one to her on wednesday. I'm so excited! I love her and her family! Her hubby's got the coolest accent, he's from North Carolina.

I love it here. I love these people SO much!!

Elder Anderson was here ALL weekend long, that was too cool for school. I got to shake his hand! WOO!! His testimony of the Savior was so sure and strong. I loved it. His wife is from here, and he used to be the Stake president of the stake I'm in. It was awesome to have him here.

You always ask me if i need anythin, but I'm doin good. I need more skirts, but I'll get em eventually. Uh... more recess eggs?! I wouldn't appose ;).

I love ya'll SO much!!

Hi, I'm Lance Armstrong

HELLO FAMILY!!!

I don't think I can explain enough to you how much I love you. I thought I loved you before I left, but I swear it's like quadrupled. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

 

Mom: thanks soooo much for your detailed updates and emails. I LOVE THEM. Tell grandpa and grandma thanks for the letter. Tell Gpa i sure am lucky to have his personality...;) He's too funny! I hope his knee gets better fast!! He's a trooper. Please let them know how much I love them!

Daddy: Your letters brighten my day!! Thanks so much for sending me one every week since I've been out. They honestly mean the world to me. I cry like a baby everytime. I love you SO much!

Jacob and Blake: I love you two punks! I'm glad you had such a good time in Vegas!! Make sure you pay attention in seminary... that's something I'm regretting out here. Keep being good boys and wearing your girl repellant- it seems to be workin ;)

Houston and Ky: thank you guys for your pictures, theyre both hanging in my room!! I love you two!! I hope you're feeling better huey, and Ky i'm jealous you gotta hang out w/ gma!

 

In two days I will be gone for a month.... can you believe it?! Holy moly Holy Cow!

 

Well, this week was wonderous. We taught my first lesson on Monday to two guys named Lorenzo and Rashad. They live in our apartment complex. It went really well, Lorenzo prayed for his first time, that was really cool to see. He felt the Spirit and loved it. They commited to continue to read the Book of Mormon and go to a church tour with us. They didn't end up showing up though, and haven't gotten back with us :( but that's okay! NEVER SAY NEVER :) Hopefully they will get in touch with us soon!! They were super great and faithful young men!!

 

WARNING: YOU ARE EMAILING THE BIKING QUEEN OF AMERICA. Pictures to come! It's seriously the funnest thing ever- I just laugh my head off the whole time, thinking about what ya'll would say if you saw me. haha its so great.

 

The people here are great. The ward members BLOW MY MIND!! They are so sweet and willing to help out with anything. I feel at home on Sundays, it's nice :). They make a huge impact on our missionary work too.

 

Well I really don't know what else to share. I'm good and happy, and I hope you all are too! :) I know this church is true. The more I bear my testimony to others, the more it is strengthened. I know the Book of Mormon is true- that it testifies of our Savior. He loves us SO much (I'd like to think that being out here has helped me feel His love more fully, but I know I'm still not even close.)- more than we can imagine. I can feel that love when I talk to the people here. It's crazy. I still can't believe I'm here on a mission. 

 

OH!! I remembered something REALLL cool!! Elder Anderson from the Quorom of the 12 is coming to Stake Conference on Sunday!! Cool eh?! And he's doing a special mission conference for all of us on Monday. I'm SO EXCITED!! To hear him and to see all my MTC friends. Twill be a good day. So- if I don't email you on Monday, do not be alarmed we have the rest of P-Day on tuesday :)  

 

Uh... Tell my friends they stink. I haven't gotten a single letter out here from anyone except dad (except an elder from the MTC) (Yeah, I'm a loser). So yeah, tell them if they are wanting to be around my hilarious self after these 17 months, they needta get their rears in gear.

 

Oh! That CD Michelle gave me, LOVE IT!!!! Its like Mumford and Sons LDS version. Tell her thank you so much!! I love it :)

 

Yeah yeah yeah, my Emails are Random Bandom, Sorry bout that. The gist is I love you and I'm happy. And I hope you're happy!!! Talk to you soon!!! LOVE YOU!!

 

Sister MEgan Brialle Burton

2nd Letter

FAMILY.

 

Here I sit, at a library in Florida. I only have like 15 minutes, so I won't be able to do this past week any justice but I will try.

 

Monday: flight to tampa, slept the whole way on the plane, stayed at the mission home. Ask me if President Summerhays and his wife are the best people around. Well, you guys aren't around here so yes, yes they are. I felt so comforted and at home with him. I stayed with my 2 Tampa best friends from the MTC. Sister Allison Bowe and Sister Keri Beck. We are plannin on living together at byui after. They are seriously the best- couldn't speak any higher of them. They remind me of my home best friends :)

 

Tuesday: woke up, orientation, met my new companion....S. I'm in a trio. Sister Williamson is 26 years old, she's been out for like 15 months. She's from Mesa.  She's like my momma out here. She's sooo nice, sweet, and patient. I love her alot and I am learning SO much from her. Sister Daniels has been here for five weeks. She's from Salt Lake. President called us the two blondes :) I saw an alligator my first day! Our apartment is in the 2nd biggest appartment complex in America (cool eh?). It's huge. ha. There's a lake out our back window... IT IS BEAUTIFUL here. I'm obsessed.

 

Wed,Thurdsday,Friday: Ummm just studys, trying to find people to teach (we dont have any investigators... YET :) ) I was super super super homesick for the first like four days... Like I wanted to come home kind of homesick. It was rough. I don't think I realized how much I love ya'all :). Geez I miss you.  But once we got out of the apartment and started doing things it got better.Thursday we had a district meeting (ELDER B. LOTT is in my district, sweet huh?) but I saw Sister Bowe there and she was in the same boat as me, so it was SOO good to see her and also to know that I wasn't the only one struggling.

 

Saturday: In this area we are over the Odessa Area. Us (the sisters) over half and the Elders (who are HILARIOUS) over the other half. They had a baptism, so we went. Soooo good for me. Definitely cheered me up. After, Bishop gave us all missionaries blessing for the new transfer. HOLY COW I LOVE THE PRIESTHOOD. All my scaredness went away.

 

I am SOOO thankful to be here. I know it's where I'm supposed to be, what I'm supposed to be doing. I've gotta go to dinner, so I can't write anymore  (the members here are THE BEST). I love you all so much!!! Thank you daddy for the letter- it honestly made everything better. I love you. Mom! thanks so much for the package!! I loved the picture Kylee :) it's in my room!! Huey and Blake thanks for the notes!! Jake? I didnt get anything from you, Whats up with that?!  ;) I love you all SO much!! Talk to you next week!!

Sorry its so short and brief. I love you!!