Letter from Elder Burnett

Dear Family,

I apologize for the lack of email last Monday and Mom, for the birthday card that I was just able to send out today. Here is how last week went...

If you have been watching the national weather news, you would have seen that Pipestone made it! We were HEAVILY rained on for 26 hours straight. The pipestone creek, which floods at 16 feet, was at an all time high of 21 feet! The North East side of town had been evacuated and we were busy saving members stuff and sandbagging! I know that this is not a real excuse, but as you can see, we were quite busy!

As for investigators, things just hit a wall. We have some promising call-backs and will keep you informed on those when I have more information! I sure do miss you lots and hope that you are nice and warm in Sunny CA. It’s September here...and they are talking snow! O.o

Love you all and thank you for your support! Please keep my visit with Holly in Fargo at the end of next month in your prayers! I want it to work out so I can talk with her face to face. Thank you!

Would you like to know what storm made us flood? Hurricane Carl! :) That’s right...I got hit by a HURRICANE in the MIDDLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Lol. It was supposed to hit Mexico I guess? Well, it caught the air stream and whipped to Minnesota and South Dakota. Love you :)

--
Elder Burnett
Soldier of Zion

Letter from Elder Burnett

Dear Family,

Things are going well here in Pipestone. We are hitting a rough patch though. However, that is what faith is for right? :) We push forward every day with a strong faith that things will get better. I sure am loving serving the Lord. It’s strange though. I am at that point in my mission now where everyone I know is going home. I am starting to become one of the older ones already. My good friend, Elder (Jonathon) Badten goes home this transfer to New Hampshire. He is planning on moving to Irvine about a year after I get home for work and can’t wait to see him again.

Thank you for all of the support that you bring me every day. I look forward to every letter that I receive and apologize that I am not the best at returning letters. It’s something I need to work on. I love and miss you all so much! I know the day will be glorious when I get to see you again! Keep the faith!

--
Elder Burnett
Soldier of Zion

Letter from Elder Burnett

Dear Family,

Things are going surreal here in Pipestone, MN. How grateful I am for the power of prayer, and for the love that our Lord shows us all every day. Elder Loder and I are working very hard and very well together. Recently, we have invited a unmarried (soon to be married!) couple to be baptized on Nov. 6! They accepted and we are now working on their smoking habits. They were heavy drinkers as well; drinking a case and a half a day! We knew that we wouldn’t get anywhere while that happened, so that was our first step! They have now been sober for 31 days and I am grateful for the blessings that the Word of Wisdom brings.

For some time, the area has been dying due to a lack of new investigators and a slew of them dropping us. However, as we have "pressed forward with a steadfast faith in Christ," we have seen a complete turnaround. We now teach the message of the Restoration on the door step and are having more people let us in. Sometimes, it takes a little blind faith to take that first step; knowing that it’s what needs to be done, but not knowing what will happen.

I love this gospel. I love the you that support me. I love those that I have come to serve. But most of all, I love my Lord and my Savior; He who leads me and guides me through the rough times to the good times. I look forward to the day that I can meet Him and those that I love, at the Gates of Heaven. Remember, the Lord has said "I will lead thee withersoever thou goest." Keep the faith and share the gospel. That is my message for you. I close this, in the name of Jesus Christ, He who supports this work, and invites all to partake of His fruit. Amen.

--
Elder Burnett
Soldier of Zion