12/20/2011

HEY, Sorry. This email was in my spam box for some reason. But everything with my companion is awesome. He told me that he wants to work so thats what we have been doing. And like you said dad, we have just had FUN!! I would describe this past week as fun. we laugh, he is funny and we have a bunch of inside jokes. He teaches really well and yeah..its just fun! We get along great and he is helping me with my spanish quite a bit. Any way, here are some pictures. Of the baptism, of Christmas at presdents house and of the picture of the chicken you asked for lan.The little boy holding it caught it for me, after i attempted several times.  haha!

12/20/2011

Feliz Navidad!

I hope all is well with you all on the boat, cruising along, island hopping. sounds like fun!

I dont have much time this week. Yesterday morning we got up super early, and caught the first bus to Quito. 7 hour bus ride..so yeah. we got there, ate lunch and walked to Presidents house in the pooring rain. It was super fun, but super cold too. In the coast, they dont celebrate Christmas really, so I havent felt like it is Christmas time, with the cold, and the lights and trees and just the stuff that comes with Christmas. but in Quito, dang! its christmass. Pretty Cool to see a big city at Christmas time.

We had dinner at presidnets house. Ham, potatoes, veggies, salad, rolls. It was really good. Being there was great. all the missionaries from 3 zones, about 40 missionaries, it felt like a family. We read from Luke 2, and then went outside and Christmas caroled for about 45 minutes. Luckily the rain had stopped. We went back to the house and had a closing christmas thought. It was Elder Hollands message to the missionaries a few years back, describing his first Christmas away from home. It was a great thought and the spirit was very strong. Every time Im in Presidents home, I think of how Mom and Dad would make the best mission president couple. Dad with his powerful and inspiring way with the scriptures and talk, and mom with her loving and unbelievable home making abilities. Remember what Elder Holland said this last conference...just a though i had. :)

Anyway, this past week was great. We had two baptisms, Adrian and Alba Pascal. It was a tender mercy how everything worked out with them, and the baptism turned out great with a lot of support from the ward. So humble, they invited us to dinner on Christmas day with Alba and her daughter, and all the little kiddos. It should be great. We have a good message to share with them.

Ill call you on Christmas day. I dont know when we are going to skype so just be ready on Christmas day. Ill call before hand obviously. Prolly around mid afternoon?? No se todavia. We´ll be in touch though.

Have fun on the cruise! Grandpa gave me the rundown on the All state ceremony. Sounds like it went really well and that it was a great experience for him. Once again, Good work Josh.

Merry Christmas!

JAGE

12/12/2011

Mis Querido Family,

Hola, Que tal? Espero que todo sale bien con preparaciones para el Cruise y La Navidad y todo. Me siento muy feliz estar aqui en Ecuador, serviendo, especialmente en este epoca de Navidad. Tengo algunas historias para ustedes este semana que espero que les gustan.

Congrats Josh on the Awards and the invitation to the All State banquet. also ELITE 11! How cool is that. We go to Quito Next week for the Christmas Dinner with president and so Ill check the box to see if the packages and clippings came. Im very excited to see them all. I hope the packages come.

I forgot to tell you last week, thankyou so much for fasting for Margarita. I knew I didnt say thankyou and its been kiling me all week that I didnt even say anything about it. Sorry, but thankyou so much. We are still working to try and get her married.

Thankyou so much for the story, Dad, about your Christmas that you spent in Canada. ALthough quite simple, it was very tender, very powerful. I wonder if my journal entries will be able to affect, uplift and inspire my sons someday, like yours do. SHEESH. Sitting in the cyber, trying hard not to cry. Im just glad that I have the same opportunties that you had, and all missionaries, to be in the field, serving others, sharing the message of Jesus Christ. Very good experience and im looking forward to spending it with the members. although it doesnt seem to be that big of a deal here. At least in comparison, still excited. Heres why:

This week, Alba and Adrian are getting baptized. Turns out, her and her husband are married, and he is supporting them in the decision. He is going to think about getting baptized to and he said he supports them in the decision. So thats good! We were so bummed at one point. But, remember how they moved and we couldnt find them? We tried everything for 3 or 4 days. Then, we get on a bus, and the relief society president was on the bus. We asked her where she was going and she said Alba´s house! WHAT?! We were so pumped. This was on Wednesday. We went with her to the house, and had a quick message. Went back every day and found out that she is married, is all settled in to her new house and wants to get baptized. She said she was so worried that we forgot about her and her family. And that she didnt know if she was ever going to see us again. When we heard that we were so excited. She came to church with her little boys this past week and is all ready for the baptism this week. and very excited! Tender Mercy. Adrian, her 9 year old son, told us that one day he wants to be a Hermano. So cool! Also, so excited that we found her and have been helping her with everything, She invited to share Christmas with her. So humble and literally has nothing, she invited us over. We accepted and declined the invitation with the member that we received so that we could spend it with her. I love her so much and see the desires she has a loving mother. So great, im so excited to spend Christmas with the Pascal Family.

I talked with the Bishop. He said that he loves that we are working hard. We have now reactivated two families, and one single mother. We currently dont have an Elders quorum president nor a young mens president, and I dont know the High priest group leader, so clearly there is a lack of leadership. Ward council is us, the bishop, relief society and primary and young womens president. It pretty fare to say that there are about 5 or 6 women, in the ward, the bishop and us that do everything.

I love the updates. Keep em coming and the info is good! If you have time, send more!

I love you! Youre in my prayers! Happy Cruise and Merry Christmas.

ELDER JEREMIAH JAMES BURR