Rain!!!

Well... Finally we get some big rain storms. Half of our area is now a river of trash. I feel like I am in a video game trying to figure out how to cross the street without stepping in the mud or water or trash. So much fun!!

Every person asks why we are not home we just laugh and tell them we have to work. But the downsides of the rain are the power outages, sickness, and flooding. I hope we continue to get rain because Cape Verde really needs the rain.

Interesting story for the week… We were having a bad day, every lesson was falling through and we stopped to think of where we needed to go. A less active then called us over. Which was rare, she is usually never home or super busy, so we go over. As we get to where she is, she leans over the side of the roof and points to her friend who is lying on the floor of the roof of her house. The less active then tells us she is a member of the church and dying of neck cancer. She is only 27 years old. We then go over there and talk to her. She is sick. She has a little girl. This is what makes the work hard. We sing hymns and share a scripture. The next day we had the bishop come with us to give her a blessing. That was one of the first times I have felt the priesthood power. I do not know what is going to happen because today she went to the hospital to get more treatments but a ton of peace washed over me.

On a funny note… In America you go to the store and pick what kind of cow meat you want. Well here you go to the counter and ask for cow meat and they give you whatever they have. It was this very chewy piece of meat. Not sure I will eat that again. Not even sure where on the cow it came from. Ha Ha

Much love,

Sister Burke

Week of Miracles!!

Two HUGE miracles happened this week, along with millions of small ones. God is in the details!! I know that 110%!!!

First miracle... I had a baptism!!! We first met this lady on the 30th of July. We were at another investigators house telling her the importance of church and why she must come. Well her friend was sitting there just listening.  We did not even talk to her. Well the next day was Sunday and our investigator and her friend came to church! We were amazed and decided to have her friend get baptized the same day as our investigator; which at that point was a week and a half away! Totally possible though. So we worked with them both every day for a week and a half. Our initial investigator went out of town last Saturday, the day she was supposed to get baptized so unfortunately she was not baptized but her friend was. 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!! That is all it took for her to have a strong testimony that this is the only true church! Amazing! The day before her baptism we asked where she was in the Book of Mormon she said 2 Nephi 28!! In two weeks she read 1st and 2nd Nephi. WOW!!!! Her baptism was beautiful!! Truly a miracle!!! I am so happy I got to be a part of that!!

Second miracle… An investigator we have been working with for a while told us she will call us when she as time, pretty much telling us to stop coming by. Well we just do not give up that easy. We had a ward member with us and we were going to teach this other lady but she was not home. So my companion said lets go to our investigator. Okay... We show up and she is home. Her boyfriend is home as well!! Which is a miracle because he is a fisherman and gone for weeks at a time. They also need to get married before they can be baptized. We asked if they had talked about it. She said no, so we helped them talk about it and they agreed!! Then the member we had with us worked at the same place as our investigator!! Our investigator does not start until next Friday. The member then testified how she can balance life and family and church. It was an amazing lesson!!! Truly a huge miracle!! The olds of that happening by the hand of man are so slim!! God is truly helping us to help them see the truth!! I love their family so much!!

This week was great!! I hope you all had a good week as well!! Lots of love!!



Sister Burke

6 Meses!!!!! (aka 6 Months!!!)

First off... I have decided the rain is fun but after the rain not so much. When it rains here everything wakes up; meaning all the dirt and allergies. Yes, it is allergy season!! So yes I got allergies which turned into a head cold. Ugh! Made it 6 months here before getting sick but no worries I am all better now.

Also this week was Zone Conference. Which is when all the missionaries in Praia and Maio get together with President Mathews and we receive training. Well this one was extra special!! I had to give a 3 minute training as well!! In Portuguese! WHAT!?!?! My training was on a mission rule so it wasn’t that bad but it was a little scary. My Portuguese is coming a long but I can hear most my mistakes. Then to give the training in front of Mission President, that was a whole different story. But all went well and I did a good job! Then the rest of Conference was AMAZING!!!!! It is like a mini General Conference! Truly mission presidents are called of God!

So 6 months! My mission still doesn’t feel real! The past 6 months have flown by so fast!!! I only have 1 year left!! What!?!? This week I was reflecting on who I have become and who I want to become. One thing I have realized that I have seen over and over again. God’s love for his children, especial me. I feel God’s love the most in the moments when I invite people to come unto the only person who can give them true happiness and joy but they tell me not today or they do not have time. At first my heart breaks because they are too busy for happiness and don’t want that today. When I know Christ can change lives if you let him. But just has fast as the heart break comes the reassuring feeling of love from my Heavenly Father telling me all is well. Just like Peter in Matthew 14:22-33 “If we continue to look to Christ with Faith then we will not sink”.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. 1. Faith in Jesus Christ. 2. Repentance 3. Partaking of the Sacrament every week. 4. Seeking the Spirit for comfort and guidance. 5. Enduring to the end by praying, reading the Book of Mormon and increasing our Faith in Christ. These 5 steps are a continue process, a circle. As we live the gospel in our lives we learn of Christ better and help get eternal life. I know all this to be true! I have seen so many blessings from it! I love being a missionary in Cabo Verde!! I am so excited to see what the next year has in store!

Much love,



Sister Burke

P.S. My neighbor killed another pig this week. First time my companion has seen a pig die. That was lots of fun.

RAIN!!!!

Guess what!?!?!

It rained!!!

Not a ton, like for 30 minutes, just a sprinkle but no one wanted us to teach them because of the rain. Everyone was freaking out that we were outside working. We just laughed it was nothing. People where using the window wipers. They had NOTHING on their windshield.

Everyone says August is the month for rain. I am just waiting for the major down pour!! I love rain storms!! But Cabo Verde doesn’t get much rain. Everyday about 3 pm there are dark clouds over our head and we think it is going to rain. Back home in Utah it would rain with those clouds but for about 10 minutes, then later the sun is out. Also the other day the clouds where so low, I looked to my comp and said it might snow (PS it was cold I had to wear a sweater). We then looked at each other and laughed so hard because that was not cold the clouds where just low. But it had that it is going to snow feeling.

Then we had this lesson, in this house where... There where 2 dogs and 3 pigs, dirt floors, which has all the animals pee on it. Let’s just say it was a miracle I didn’t puke. Worst smell ever. This was rare people usually have the animals outside but the lady is the most humble lady I have ever met and am really excited to continue to teach her.

Then one of the families in our ward had this 6 year old daughter. She thinks I am a vampire because of my fangs. It is so funny. Her mom invited us to her birthday party but she yelled and pointed to me she can’t come she will bite me!!! HaHa We all laughed so hard. Then as we were leaving she hissed at me. She is so cute!!

Tomorrow, I hit 6 months on the mission!! 1/3 of the way through, I never thought that would happen!! My Portuguese has improved a ton! I can understand what people are saying and I can teach lessons. I still struggle but I can survive. I only have a year left. Missions go by so fast!! But I still have a year full of adventures. The past 6 months I have learned a lot and so excited to see what else I can and might learn. Happy 6 months!!!

PS. I found a penny, (1 escudo), on the street taht never happens!!!! Lucky escudo!!!

Until next week!!

Love,
Sister Burke