There is so much to say I don't know where to begin! The last few days at the MTC were so good, but I was also excited to head to Canada. The flights were good, I was the only missionary out of all 7 sisters that got to sit by a non-missionary (hope that makes sense) at first it was a little scary (cause I'm supposed to share the gospel with them and all) but it was so great to be able to talk to people and share what I believe. And you'd be surprised at how many people are willing to take a pass-along card or learn more about doing their family history work. Three of the 7 missionaries got stuck in Toronto because the airplane was full or something so they had to take a later flight. But my boarding pass was fine so I landed in Halifax around 8:00. We stayed at the mission home for 2 nights were they did like orientation and such. My mission president is great! He was funny and nice but also strict. He knows how missionaries are supposed to act and I am grateful to have such an inspired man as my mission president.
On Thursday I went out with Sister Weaver to visit some less actives and such in Halifax and Dartmouth because my Trainer hadn't been transferred yet. Later that night I got to meet my trainer, Sister Starkie!! She is so great! She is from somewhere in Utah.. I don't really remember. She has so much energy the mission president told me my job is to tell her to slow down so she doesn't work me to death. I love it though, we definitely stay busy! They stuck Sister Starkie and I in a car and said head to New Glasgow. haha we had no idea where we were going, she's only served on prince edward island and I'd never been to Canada and no one had a map or instructions. They told us to follow the signs... kinda crazy. We did find it eventually but we had to call the Elders once we got into town to help us out. New Glasgow is just the cutest little town. Everyone is so friendly and the houses are tiny and cute. I love the people here already!
The Elders are SO great! Elder Roberts is the district leader and his companion is Elder Watson. We got to go to a lesson with them and that was fun. We are serving in the same area so we see them all the time and they've helped a ton. We serve in the same Branch of about 40 active members. Man is Canada BEAUTIFUL! You should see the leaves this time of year, they are spectacular. I love walking and being outside because it is just so pretty! We have a car (brand new 2014 chevy cruze) and bikes (lucky me. haha) and we walk a lot because our apartment is really close to the church. The first night in my apartment I sat there thinking to myself I am in a new country, in a new city, in a new apartment, with someone I don't know.. and I LOVE IT! haha the church is so true. Our apartment is so cute and tiny. I hear its one of the nicer ones but they've never had missionaries there before so it will be interesting. My Pdays are Mondays, I'm pretty sure that's how it will always be.
We spoke in Sacrament on Sunday and taught the Primary. (its a tiny branch and they don't have enough active members to fulfill all the callings) And we will be teaching gospel principles with the Elders too when the Primary doesn't need us.The Elders had been telling the Branch the Sisters were coming for more than a month now and they were so excited to finally meet us! The members are so sweet and kind, I love them so much! They talked about how the Branch President even posted on facebook that he was excited to meet the new sister missionaries. :) They were SO excited it was so cute! The first night we were there we went to the Branch Mission Leaders house, his name is Brother Mckinnen and that family has taken good care of us! They even had us over for dinner last night. They are the best family and have incredible testimonies! They even gave us some milk so we could have cereal in the morning. The milk was in a bag. Isn't that a little odd? It's funny how somethings are just different here. Like when we are out knocking you don't go to peoples front doors, you go around back to knock. I always feel like I am trespassing in someones backyard but its just normal here.
Since Sister Starkie and I are both new to the area we have gotten lost so many times! Typically we call the Elders and they save us. haha We did get to teach a few lessons and that was really cool. Every time I teach a lesson I get another confirmation of how true the gospel really is. How lucky am I that I get to bring people closer to Christ! I love being a missionary! We go knocking quite a bit because we don't have really any investigators but finding and street contacting really isn't that bad. The people here are SO nice! Like they will just stop and have conversation with you about where I'm from and why I'm serving a mission. Typically they aren't interested in learning more, but respect our desires to bring people to Christ. and 90% of people we talk to will take a pass along card. Which is great! The only part that I don't like so far is tracting or knocking at night, but I just keep telling myself the Lord takes care of his missionaries.
On Saturday there was a branch holiday dinner. I guess it was for thanksgiving and Christmas but since thanksgiving is already over here, they did it in the middle. It was delicious and they let us take stuff home :) They LOVE us. haha and they don't even know us yet. It's amazing how much small branches like this rely on the missionaries. Like they gave us a master key to the church, so we have access to everything. There really is about 3 families that make up almost the whole Branch. Haha But I love it so much! There are the cutest old ladies too in the Branch, so I think we will be raking lots of leaves for service. :) We have a specific exercise routine we have to do every morning called like P5X or something. It definitely will keep me in shape. I guess it's used for the Canadian army or something.. haha
I am so grateful I am able to be on a mission. It really is incredible to be able to dedicate all my time and talents to the Lord. He loves all his children so much and I want to help bring them to him. And I'm only one of 80,000. Isn't that incredible!? I love being a part of the Lords work. He definately takes care of his missionaries. I know that through Christ I can find strength to face each day with a smile. In the mission field you pray SO MUCH! but it totally pays off because you can feel the spirit so close to you. I find that when I am serving other I become so happy! Even just helping clear tables at the holiday dinner made me feel closer to the Savior. I hope you all have a great week! Oh and by the way.. the mission home doesn't forward me my mail.. so Sister Starkie said it's safe to send it there, I just might not get it for a few months. We just pick it up whenever we are back at the mission home. (Who knows when that is). So for now I would love it if you'd mail things to my apartment! :)
Sister Breanna Burton
159 Abercrombie Rd
New Glasgow, NS B2H 1K5
Canada
I hope that's the right address... :) It's fun because they don't really use numbers for roads here, they all have cute names like Abercrombie. haha we even found a Roy Street. Go Roy! :) Anyway.. sorry it's so long, we've had a busy week. Don't forget to write me, mail is the best! Serving a mission is hard and exhausting, but you can't call it a sacrifice because you get so much more out of it than you ever put in. I love you all so much! Til next week...
Sister Breanna Burton
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