Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day last week!! :) Valentines Day.. the most awkward day to be a missionary. haha I was thinking today about how crazy it is that I have lived in New Glasgow for almost 4 months now. I love it here so much and I think we are really starting to make progress. The zone leaders called last night to discuss how our area was doing. We've had a few really great weeks and they said the New Glasgow Sisters are leading the whole zone in key indicators and lessons taught! Wahoo!  It's amazing to see the growth happening. I was talking with Elder Amaya (district leader) after church yesterday and in a recent letter to him, President Leavitt told him, "Sister Burton will be a power force to push this mission forward." Isn't that awesome!? Sometimes it feels like what I am doing won't ever be enough. Missionary work is stressful and relying on the spirit 100% of the time is not easy. but what is amazing is that the Lord uses our hands to perform his miracles. Jeffrey R Holland said, "When Christ comes, the members of His church must look and act like members of His church are supposed to look and act is we are to acceptable to Him. We must be doing His work and we must be living His teachings. He must recognize us quickly and easily ans truly being His disciples." I loved that because it doesn't just apply to missionary work, but to everything we do in life. 

A quick update on what's going on here.. Dwayne and Crystal are getting married at the church on Saturday! Hooray!  No worries, I pretty much planned their entire wedding. haha Karolanne, (their 14yr old daughter) is going to help us make their wedding cake on Friday. 2 weeks after that Dwayne will be baptized! He's so incredible! He even is sharing mormon.orgprofiles on facebook and inviting his friends to his baptism. I just love that family. Karolanne has started coming to young womens and church and we are really excited to start teaching her as well. The Frasers have started to call me "their missionary". I love that so much! Jessie is also doing so great! She is still working on her indexing and family history but she has also decided she wants to do Personal Progress. She is just awesome and still teaching gospel principles like a pro. I caught a glimpse of the screensaver on her Ipad the other day... it's a picture of me and her at her baptism! :) I loved that! I just love the people here so much! Things are going great here in New Glasgow. Thank you for all the prayers and mail, it makes my life so much easier. Have a great week everyone!  :) 

Love

Sister Burton

February 3rd Pictures

Not sure how to go about knocking this door :)

Bowling on P-day with Sister Curtis

Go Team Canada…no offense America

I LOVE being a missionary

This last week was so incredible in New Glasgow! On Tuesday the Sister Training Leaders came for exchanges and I got to work with Sister Pizzey. She taught me so much! I learned that I'd been facing so much discouragement because I was focused on myself. I'd been looking for ways to improve My skill level, so that I can help the work progress Myself. when things got tough I would turn inward wondering what I'd done wrong or why I wasn't good enough. But of course, the secret to success is to follow the example of Jesus Christ and turn outward, when everyone else is turning inward. I learned to instead focus on how I can build Sister Curtis, and how She can help the work progress. The difference that made in our companionship was night and day. It was no longer about me. We began to have fun, to teach in unity, and to really trust one another. Not only did we find more success within our companionship, but also with the work. This week our numbers (key indicators, lessons, and contacts) were higher than they have been my entire mission. Not only that but as we were driving home each night I felt absolute peace and happiness in my heart knowing I'd given my all to the Lord that day. 

Also, I have some exciting news. I received a call from the assistants on Saturday evening explaining there was a leadership training in Halifax this coming Tuesday for all the zone leaders and sister training leaders. He said that for role playing purposes they were short one missionary to make the groups even so they invited me to attend! Out of all the missionaries in Nova Scotia (about 35) they asked me, a new missionary serving all the way in New Glasgow. I am so pumped to be able to attend this leadership conference. Just to clarify.. I have not been called to any leadership position other than a trainer. They just needed one more missionary to attend. But I'm so honored they selected me! Sister Curtis will work in Dartmouth with the sisters serving for the day there while I attend the conference. I am a little nervous to role play and such with all of the leaders of the mission but am so glad Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to learn and grow and to be able to bring back what I learn and apply it in my own area. Plus I get to see Sister Starkie :) 

I can't express how grateful I am to be a missionary. Nothing in the world can compare to the joy I feel as I'm learning to give my heart to the Lord. 

1 John 2:17

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

I can't explain all I have learned since entering the MTC but it's more than I could've imagined. I've never prayed and studied the scriptures so much in my life, but I've also never received such clear and direct answers to my prayers. Every single one. James E Faust said, "The Holy Ghost bears witness of the truth and impresses upon the soul the reality of God the Father and Jesus Christ so deeply that no earthy power or authority can separate him from that knowledge." Nothing in this world can change the truth, or stop the work of God. I love that and I love what I have been called to do! I hope everyone is healthy and happy! :) Have a great week! 

Love

Sister B. :) 

Weaknesses becoming Strengths

I had an interview with President this week and he asked me if I had any fears. Being a new missionary and recently being called to train I said.. "Of course I have fears. I haven't been able to get a referral or a solid potential since Sister Starkie left." President replied, "and does that worry you?" Why yes, yes it does. I expected him to give me advice on more effective finding efforts, or increasing skill level, or even finding someway to become more obedient. But he bluntly responded. "Worry is prayer to the wrong God. Fear is the opposite of Faith." He went on to explain that just as Heavenly Father can turn our weaknesses into strengths, Satan turns our strengths into weaknesses. We become so preoccupied with worry from lack of skill that we forget the gifts that he's already given us. Our feelings of inadequacy drives us to work less effectively. Worry is mentally planning to fail, and as President Leavitt always says.. in this mission "Failure is not an Option."

I don't have much time because we have a lot to get done today but some exciting news is we have been teaching the Fraser family for awhile and Dwayne has accepted the invitation to be baptized on March 8th. He and his wife will be married by President MacDonald in February and their children have expressed interest in the youth programs. I am totally pumped about them! All other investigators are progressing slowly but surely. 

I am learning so much and love love love the branch and the people here in New Glasgow! I hope you all have a great week!! 

Love

Sister Burton