Fresno Days--Water Balloons and Other Missionary Work

April 14th, 2014

Glad to hear that the funeral went well and that everyone got to spend some quality time together.

Also, super awesome to hear that Josh got his call. Columbia sounds interesting. I think somebody from the Fresno North Stake is serving there as well. 

I wanted to answer your questions about the upcoming transfer. I suspect me and Elder Doane will stay together but I don't know for sure. We get the call-out next Saturday night about the transfer so I'll keep you posted. 

I don't know how much stuff I'll have to send home until I take some time to go through everything. I'll probably send home 3 boxes at the most. 

Tell Christopher Parker, congrats! 

Highlights from this last week- 

We had leadership training on Wednesday and we received tons of inspiration on how we can improve. It was awesome! We really focused on Joshua 24:23 - "Putting away strange gods." Basically anything that distracts our focus from our Heavenly Father and our missionary purpose, we must put it away. 

On Thursday, we went to the Echo building (mission office) and did service for a few hours cleaning chairs and tables. At the end, Pres. announced we'd have a water balloon fight. Sis. Gelwix was not happy about it because she knew there would be water balloon debris everywhere. When she came outside to take this up with Pres....Pres. busted a water balloon over her...oooh not the greatest move. So then all the 4 zones of missionaries that attended broke out into a 2 min water balloon fight. Super fun! I was on exchanges on east side the rest of the day, and an investigator family fed us delicious Korean BBQ. So GOOD! 

The next morning, we went to see our recent convert and had an early morning lunch feast because he recently got married. Also, super exciting. That evening, we went and 2 of our longer-term investigators and they totally set a baptismal date for this month!!! 

Saturday was awesome as well. We did a baptismal interview for the East elders for their baptism last Sunday! She's super solid and awesome! Way excited for her. We also went and ate at one of our older member's house and he was speaking French. He learned French, Japanese, and Lao when he lived back in Laos just so that he would have options. He's super cool too! He kept telling us in broken English: "Don't take nap! I never sleep! It wastes your time!" So remember that when you feel like taking some shut-eye. 

Sunday we had our stake missionary correlation meeting and then headed over to Sacrament Meeting. We translated and it was hard and fun as always. We also attended east side's baptism and Elder Doane performed a musical number with Elder Fraser. It was a really spiritual service. 

Today, we went over to the Fresno East Stake Center and played some volleyball and half-court basketball. Sports are always very stress relieving. 

...and that's pretty much the whole week in a nutshell! 

I love you all so much! I hope everything is going well for you! Keep me posted! Love ya

xoxox 

Elder Scott M. Burdick

Sad News

April 7th, 2014

My dad and Scott's grandfather, Papa Jess passed away suddenly on April 3rd.  It was so difficult not to be able to speak directly to Scott, but I spoke with his mission president and part of the letter Scott wrote to me is included here:

There is a line in my patriarchal blessing that states "the love of your family will always accompany you such that you will never feel alone." This is true. I've always felt the family's love as I've served as a full-time missionary. However, I especially feel Grandpa's love for me and I have a certain knowledge that he is doing very much of the same things I am doing now. He is happy! I know it. You are always happy in the work of the Lord and he is doing the work of the Lord. 

I hope you are not worried about me. I am happy. There is a selfish part of my heart that wishes I could have seen Grandpa one more time, but it is drowned out in the overwhelming joy that he is home. He is with Grandma Mary. He is with his beloved friends. I am so grateful for him and his continued diligence even now on the other side of the veil. 

Dad mentioned that he wanted me to share a memory/thought of grandpa  - 

I remember that he would always make me laugh. I remember when he'd tell us bedtime stories when we lived in Canada. I remember his weekly phone calls full of Jesse jokes. I remember his love of airplanes and his undying passion to share all the pictures he found with me. I remember the M*A*S*H episodes and all the old British TV shows. I remember how much he loved me. Most importantly, I remember that he was faithful. I think often of his service as a full-time missionary. I look at his mission pin, and I remember his service. It inspires me to follow his example.  

Love, 

Elder Scott M. Burdick  

Good Eggs

March 31st, 2014

Dear Mom and Dad,

Neb ob niam txiv yog ob lub qe zoo

So...this means: You two mother father are two good eggs (or You're two good eggs). 

The sugar cookies were awesome! I took some pictures of them. I couldn't finish all of them, so we shared them with the zone. Everyone loved them....we truly "feasted" on the word of God. :) 

Also, thanks for the bug-money! Once again, your clever ways of gifting money never cease to amaze me! Its always quite a site to see two Mormon missionaries unfolding origami money to pay for food. haha

Its bitter-sweet that the house was sold eh? Tell Gramps I love 'em! 

One of the assistants gave training last week at zone conference and made a priesthood promise that if we did these specific planning guidelines for helping people attend sacrament meeting, that we would double our sacrament meeting attendance....totally happened (2 to 4). CRAZY MIRACLE! 

One of our old members passed away this last week. He was awesome. Definitely will be missed. He was one of the first Hmong people to join the church. He actually converted back in Denver. 

Bishop's family (as you already know) had a birthday dinner for me and their daughter Kim. Their family is awesome! They're the best! 

This week has been a little crazy. We've had to made two Walgreen's runs because we've been sick. Elder Doane actually got me sick but you can't really control that when you're with one another 24/7! So we haven't been at 100%, but still surviving! :) 

Well that's the week in a nutshell right now! I really appreciated your spiritual thoughts! thank you! 

Let me know if you have any questions! Love ya all! You're the best! 

Love

xoxox

Elder Burdick

Happy 21st Birthday Elder Burdick

March 24th, 2014

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes. I got the presents today and I also got the shirts! Everything fits awesome. It was greatly needed. I almost died when I saw all the awesome sugar cookies! Gotta love 'em! Also, the fruit leathers are delicious! Elder Doane loves it when I get candy, because I pass most of it on to him. My secret plan is to make him slower than me when we run. 

Highlights of the week: 

We had an awesome zone conference. We all brought our Patriarchal blessings and sought out revelation for how we could spiritually discern the Lord's vision of us. It was amazing. 

President also gave a great training on the law of the price-tag. Everything in life "costs something." We've got to be willing to pay the price. 

Working with our members has been going really well. We've been seeing more people that have been referred by members. Its going super! You should totally read the Power of Everyday Missionaries. It blows your mind. 

Also, crazy that papa jesse's house already sold! Congrats! Also, its awesome to hear you like your new callings! Good luck in that Pathway program. Keep me updated. 

I went on an exchange with Elder Lord this last week! It was AWESOME! He's a solid missionary and a great leader. 

Anyways, thanks for all you do! Love ya'll! 

xox 

Elder Burdick 

A big party was held for Scott and Bishop Lor's daughter, Kimberly who turned 15 on March 26th.  Hence the 36 on the cake!

Farewell Elder Bone

March 17th, 2014

Hello Everyone!

It sounds like you have crazy weather back in VA, eh? 

Your callings sound all over the place too! Lots of work for the empty-nesters :) 

Also, the cousins sent me some money for my birthday. They're awesome! Please thank them for me. I need to get an email out to them as well. 

Highlights of the week: 

Monday: We said goodbye to Elder Bone. Super sad! We had Pho at Sheng's house and helped her move some old couches out to the street. 

Wednesday: Transfer Day craziness! Its a mess when 300+ missionaries are moving around the mission between 7:30-10 am. We had a team up with one of the members in the ward that is a nurse. She confirmed the reality of Valley Fever...kind of scary. 

We've also been teaching a man that is very hung up on Saturdays being the day of worship...Acts 20:7 

Sunday: Good church day! We taught one of the youth classes. Also, 2 of the members that got assigned to serve in our ward were released. Super Depressing. One of them was Scottish and he is awesome (found out that he was a pro-soccer player in the UK back in the day). The other one is my hockey buddy and he's been serving as the Young Men's President. So it was sad to see them go. 

Spiritual thought: 

Laman / Lemuel's bad attitude: 1 Nephi 2:12 ; 3:5 

-They murmured because they knew not the dealings of God. 

-They murmured because it was a hard thing that was required of them. 

Nephi's good attitude: 1 Nephi 2:16, 19-20 ; 3:7,15 

-He had a testimony of what he was doing. He had "great desires" to know the mysteries of God. 

-He was willing to do HARD things because he had an understand of his Father in Heaven. 

The same can be said in our life. When we murmur; When it's too hard - we haven't fully come to an understanding of our Father and His plan. However, when we gain this understanding - nothing is too hard. We do a Philippians 4: 13! 

Love ya all! xoxox 

Elder Burdick 

Staying with Elder Doane

March 10th, 2014

So this week has been crazy! So we didn't drive through any trees at Yosemite. I think you might be thinking of Redwoods near San Fran. 

Transfers: 

The new Hmong missionary isn't going to arrive until next transfer. So East and West side are going to be combined for 1 transfer. Me and Elder Doane are staying the same! Best ever! One of the sister areas is being doubled out and elders will be serving there now. 

What's new: 

We found the coolest person ever! She is related to one of our members and she totally loves reading the Book of Mormon. She has had tons of golden questions etc. and she came to church last week! Super awesome. 

This past sacrament meeting was very spiritual. One of the YSA members talked about the importance of doing the vicarious work for our kindred dead. She talked about how her father struggled with doing the ordinance of baptism for his deceased father, but after he finally decided to do so, his father appeared to him in a dream in white robes and basically told him that they would be a family together forever. Made me want to cry! 

Also, two of our investigators walked in an hour late into Sacrament...forgot to change the clocks...classic. I don't think people understand the emotional roller coaster they put missionaries on when they don't come to church on time. 

Anyways, ask me some questions, I'd love to fill you in! 

Also, I'm not a stick...and I'm definitely eating. We are eating healthier though and we do a 4 mile run every morning so I'm thinning out, but am still big. I have tons of muscle etc. I do a workout after our run as well. But we eat tons of more veggies and fruits than before. 

But anyways...

Love ya all lots! 

Elder Tseem Fwv Leem Vaj

BiggY NewsY

March 3rd, 2014

So I got permission a month ago to go online and apply to BYU-Provo. Turns out, I got in. So...surprise...

I will be writing a longer letter after my haircut, but suffice to say: Go COUGARS and I'm going to be livin' with Elder Doane...in Provo. 

Spiritual thought: 

God is a God of miracles. 

<3 Ya