Monday, February 29, 2016

HAPPY LEAP YEAR!!!!

Lucky me!! I have one extra day as a missionary!!!!!!! Leap year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Story of the week:

Since January, we have been working with an investigator to stop smoking. His best friend is a member and works with him, which is a HUGE help. Also found out his entire family are members as well. It has been a struggle to stop smoking but really what habit is easy to quit? Friday we had an amazing lesson with him. We talked about the atonement of Christ and how he can stop this addiction using the atonement of Christ. The next day we met with him again. He first told us a story of how he saw the harmful effects of smoking. Earlier that day he went to work and found another coworker of his almost dead due to the side effects of smoking. He then told us he will not smoke anymore. He wants a healthy body. He has a strong testimony. He has read in the book of Mormon all the way to Jacob. He has come to church for almost 3 months straight now. He is amazing. One thing I find very interesting is when he smokes he is sad and unhappy but when he does not smoke he is happy and has all this energy. It is like night and day. Truly smoking is a thing of Satan. Following God truly brings joy and happiness. He is living proof of that. I have never seen the happiness this gospel brings until I saw him at church yesterday. He had the biggest smile on his face. Living the gospel brings true happiness!! The atonement of Christ is real. Jesus Christ really did suffer for all of our sins and heartaches. I love this gospel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!



Love,

Sister Burke

Monday, February 22, 2016

Where did this week go?!

I think this was one of the fastest weeks of my life! I looked at my companion yesterday and asked her where did this week go?! I wanted just to stay on Thursday for a little bit longer. I still had so much I needed to do before Sunday but Sunday came way to fast.

Lots of things happened this week. First off it, seems like every person we are teaching right now is a complete family: Mom, dad and kids!! I love that!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our area Monte Sossego divided. That means instead of just my companion and me working in this HUGE area there will be another set of Sisters. This means there are 4 of us in the house again.


This is such a blessing for us. Our area was huge and there was not enough time in the week to really focus our efforts where it was needed. This week we were able to focus our efforts where it was needed most and miracles happened!!!!!! I love this work! One of the new sisters is straight from the MTC. Hearing her speak Portuguese made me realize how much I have really learned. Then this morning a lady stopped us in the street and told me how good my Portuguese was. She was surprised I have only been studying this language for a year. I am nowhere near perfect but I can speak and understand.

This is the best time of my mission I can finally speak what is in my heart and people understand. I love this work. I know that the only way to live with our Heavenly Father again is through this gospel, obedience to the commandments, and the saving ordinances needed. I know with all my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the earth and the Book of Mormon is living proof of that. I hope everyone realizes how important the Book of Mormon is. I hope everyone reads it!!

Thank you for all your support! I love you all!!
Sister Burke

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Transfer 9!!!!!!!!!!!

I am staying in Monte Sossego with Sister Miranda!!

 

Story of this week...

This last week we knocked on doors of a ward members. There was a sister who just moved into our area. She let us in but said her brother has tried everything to get her to go to church and be baptized. We told her no worries maybe this time will be different. We then taught her the lesson and she seemed not very interested but promised to pray. We marked another day with her. The next visit she was sick and so we marked another day. Then the next visit, after almost a week from our first visit, we met with her again. She then told us she had not prayed. We started teaching the plan  of salvation and focused on how her family could be together forever! We then asked inspired questions and by the end she opened up to us. She told us her brother was pushy and never told her why it was important. We explained it so clearly. Then she accepted baptism!!! And her husband wants to sit with us as well now, just he works until 8 at night so we planned a night to visit this week. She and her kids came to church this week! I am so excited to see them progress!

Also This week we were working with a member who served in this area as well years ago. He told us when he would knock on doors he had to stay these weird things. So then the next day I decided to try it. I knocked the door and this is what happened,

"Good afternoon, You look different..." (persons reaction, I tried not to laugh). Then continued talking about how we lived with God before this life and we can live with him after this life too. I tried this two times and each time worked. They let us in! It was really funny!!


Have a great week!


Love,
Sister Burke

Monday, February 8, 2016

1 year!!! 6 months to go!!!


This week…  What a week!! I am so sick of the junk food I ate for my birthday!!



I made a cake, which was really good!!


Then my companion made fish and rice! OH SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!



I did not tell anyone it was my birthday day. Only a few people knew. Sister Mathews then called me and wished me a happy birthday. It was really nice. It was a great hot day. I am now 22. What is this?!


Then for my one year, I made cake again.



I also tried to take a picture like I did in the MTC. I see a huge difference in one year! Time has gone by so fast!! Really, I do not know what to think. I only have 6 months left. Time will go by so fast. I love these people so much! I know that my life will never be the same.

02/04/2015

02/04/2016

This Tuesday is Carnival. For the past month it has been one huge party on the street to prepare for Tuesday’s Carnival. Really, I told my companion it looks like Halloween in America. I had no idea Halloween was in February.

This week I also had my 10th baptism, a little girl who gives the sweetest prayers. One day she will make a great missionary. She was prepared by the lord. I love her so much!

This week went by so fast! Thank you for all the Love and support!

Love,

Sister Burke

Monday, February 1, 2016

6 months left!

What is this!?!? This week will be the fastest week of my mission! Two major holidays this week... My birthday and my one year mark! WHAT!?!? 6 months left! The time will go by so fast!!


This past week I gave my first talk in Portuguese! It went well. I talked about fasting and its importance. I was nervous at first but after getting to the stand all the nerves went away. I realized, I personally knew everyone in that room and that helped me feel very comfortable. After church we went to our bishop’s house for lunch. That was a lot of fun! We got to know him better. Lunch was great! Chicken, Couscous and ICE CREAM!! Yes!!! Afterwards we helped clean up.



This week went by fast, we are working hard but we are having fun. Really this gospel has a plan called the plan of happiness... In this life if we are not happy we must change. We must pray to figure out what is stopping us from being happy because Satan has a plan too. In order to be happy we must put God first and obey all his commandments. That is truly the only way to get everlasting happiness. I have never been so happy. Yes, I am so tired but I have joy that is the true measurement of a successful life. I hope everyone this week can have a week full of happiness.


Thank you for all your prayers!

Love,

Sister Burke

P.S. 6 months to Sexy starts this week!!! Ha-ha