Tuesday, January 22, 2008

1/22/08: What Up!!!

HEY EVERYONE!!!

How is everyone doing? Things are good here! COLDER THAN COLD!!!!!!! This past week was good, hard, very hard, we rode over 180 miles and walked 60 miles!! CRAZY!! My legs are getting pretty cute though so its all good! I am starting to get settled in and use to this! Sunday was stake conference, it was good pres. gee and sister gee talked they did a good job! I was SO SO home sick Sunday! i don't know why! I was just having a bad day! But things are looking up! Just trying to take it one day at a time! So my Baptism fell through! we can not have it till June of July bc of some stuff! But its all good! We taught 11 new people this past week and got a lot of good lessons in!

But for real, it is so cold here! I had NO IDEA it was this cold out here! We have been riding out bikes when its 17 deg. out!! and the wind is blowing 20 mph! FOR REAL SO COLD!!!! everything is iced over right now bc it rained last night and its so cold out!
Listen to this Story- We were knocking doors, and we came to this door, so i knocked and this guy answers, Not wearing a shirt and says "What the F you want'" I say "well we are from the church of Jesus Christ and we our out sharing a message about his gospel" He says "What the H are you doing get the F outta here you stupid mother ____!" I started laughing and said "Sir god loves you!" He slammed the door! And we were walking off and he opened it again and just WENT OFF!!! I Was laughing! I was wating to meet a crazy guy like that haha! IT WAS SO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THen the last above him said " I hope you die and have a terrible day!" So funny i just laugh! Then i put pass along crads in the door!!! Its fun though!
Elder Oreilly is in out disrtict, he is from Riverside, HE IS SO TIGHT!! We have been calling each other everynight to talk!! HAHA HE IS TIGHT THOUGH!!!
My compaion and i are doing okay, we had 120 new contacts this past week and taught the most lessons and talked to the most people out of our zone! So that is pretty cool!
I miss all you guys and love you tonz!

Ash- Happy Birthday sooN! I need your work add. or somewhere i can send packages! SO SEND ME A LETTER so i can get it sent out before your b-day this week OKAY!!!


Whit paul and Boyz! Hope all is well! You need to write me, you were doing a good job now, NOT SO MUCH!!


Dad- Miss ya, i hope you are sending out all that stuff to me! I love yoU! that is good about the wedding stuff! I hope everything works out for ya!


Brittany-LO- Princess- I LOVE YOU! you are amazing! I could not do this without you, i am so glad you are by myside! you are the biggest support ever, i know i can do this bc i get to come home TO YOU!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! I am so SO proud of you for all your hard work! Keep it up!!


Yall need to read 3nephi Chap. 8-12! SO GOOD! Crazy but good! i think that is my new favorite part of the BofM! I am in 4 nephi! Almost to the end! THe church is true! i know that Jesus Lives and loves me as well as you! If you do whats right and serve him you will feel his love and know he loves you! I am so thankful for everyone! i know Mom is so happy and watching over me! When its SO COLD OUT all i think, "this is for 3 people, Brittany, Mom, and Jesus Christ!" I know he will bless me and watch over for me!
LOve you all and miss you!!

Elder Taylor Burnett!!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

1/15/08: HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Family -

Hey! How are you guys doing? How are things back at home? Is it snowing? How is the cabin, Dad?

Things are good here! I made it to my first p-day!! We have been doing wash and trying to get all this stuff done today! We are supposed to go bowling at 12 but who knows! Kinda lame! My trainer is pretty cool! Kinda weird and quiet but a good kid! He is Tongan and is from Utah.

We have been riding our bike SO, SO, SO MUCH!! My butt hurts so bad! Seriously, it kills me! I have ridden over 85 miles since Wednesday! CRAZY!!! I have lost a lot of weight but getting back in shape. We don’t have a car which stinks because it would be nice to drive but OH WELL!! Just my luck! Whatever it takes to humble me then so be it!

We have been teaching a good amount! I have run in to some crazy, SUCH rude people but it’s good! I just like talking to people! I actually have my first Baptism next Saturday!!!!!!!!!!! WAY COOL! Took my 5 days, President Gee said that is the fastest he has ever seen anyone get a baptism that fast, so it’s cool! He had all ready had the 1st and 2nd lesson. Then we taught him the 3rd and 4th lesson. His name is Steve Toney age 50, male and black! SUCH A TIGHT GUY!! We were teaching him yesterday and trying to get his date set and what not. He had a big thing of coffee that he got from his food stamps and he said, "Well I gotta drink my coffee because it was 13 dollars so I’ll get baptized after I finish it!"

I said, “How much was it?”

He said, “13 dollars, why?”

I said, “I’ll pay you 13 dollars to go dump it out and to set your date for you baptism.”

He started laughing and said, “No, you won’t!” I pulled it out of my wallet and put 13 bucks on the table! He started laughing and said, “OKAY!!!”

He had not had it in 15 days but it was free with his stamps! So he did it! He dumped it out and got him to pick his date for next Saturday!!!!!!!!! SO COOL! He came back in and gave me a huge hug and started crying. He said "I never knew that someone would care about me that much to pay me to throw food away!"

Such a cool thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best 13 dollars I have spent or Dad has, so thanks Dad!! That one is on you!

We are teaching four other people who will probably get baptized! The average person only gets two to four baptisms in the mission for two years. My companion only has one! So we will see! I am working so hard to do the work! It is hard but I know the Lord will bless me!

So we were knocking on doors in an apartment complex and we came to this one door. I knocked on the door and this OLD Lady answers with no teeth. CRAZY?!?!? I said "Hi, I am from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

And she said, "OHHH NO! GET OUTTA HERE!” She slammed the door in our faces so HARD!! I got shot down by a lady with no TEETH!! Haha, it was funny. My companion and I just started laughing.

I am kinda down in the ghetto, like for real! It’s pretty crazy. We are not allowed to be in parts of the city at night because it is so bad! But it is tight! I have gotten flipped off, yelled at, honked at and called some bad names in only 6 days! But it is tight!

I was pretty home sick at first or I guess I should say, Brittany Sick! But it is getting better. I am trying to lose myself and GIVE MYSELF (James Sukhan). Ha ha! SO it is good! We OYM (Open Your Mouth) to 24 people yesterday and didn’t get out until 1:30! So in 6 1/2 hours, which is pretty good.

Sukhan - I LOVE YOU MAN!! Thank you so much for everything! We sat down with this guy the other day that just went off about all the stuff we talked about - the questions about blacks, the temple and what not. When we left, my companion said I handled it really well. I GIVE IT ALL TO YOU. I told him my half brother, James Sukhan, told me all about it! I love you man! Thanks for everything! We are chillin when i get back everyday! You, me, Britt and hopefully your wife but probably not though, JK! I miss you and love ya!

Whit, Paul, Tru and Luke - That is so cute about Luke and the song! I Love you so much!!! I miss you guys but know the lord will bless everyone!

Dad - YOU ARE TIGHT, DAWG!! I am almost done with the Book of Mormon, which is cool, first time ever! I miss you! Send that stuff out for me ASAP! Miss you and love you, tell Barb hi!

Ash - Oh dear Ash!! I love you! Miss you so much! I hope all is well! That sounds tight when I get home! I think I am going to go to OSU (Ohio State) So you, me, JT and my Princess (aka Brittany) can all live together!

Justin - I love you man! Miss you! Thanks for all you have done!!

Brittany - I love you so much, you are amazing! I am sending you a tape today and some other stuff! I hope you got my other email.

JP - I sent you a letter the other day so I hope you get it soon! I LOVE YOU!! You are so tight man. I miss you and am thinking about you! You are so tight!

I know the church is true with everything in my body! I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and that he has made it possible for me to return to live with Him one day! I am so thankful for families and all they stand for! I can not wait to start my own with Brittany and have the church in my life! I am so thankful for Brittany, for always standing by my side, for being an amazing girlfriend, and for being my Partner In Crime (PIC), a new nickname, ha ha! I love all you guys and know the Lord will bless me for doing His work! Everyone read the Ensign - the article that Monson wrote! AMAZING! And read Alma 20! AMAZING! Brings such comfort knowing that Mom is happy and she is watching over me! I have felt her very close and helping everyday! I LOVE YOU GUYS! Do what’s right! BRITTANY, I love you. I know you are in my life for a reason and I thank God every night for you. I love you!

LOVE YOU ALL. Love you LO (aka Britt)

Elder Burnett!

1/10/08: Letter from President Gee

Dear Brother Burnett,

Please be assured that everything is OK in the Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Mission! Elder Burnett arrived safely yesterday, tired from beginning the day at 2 a.m. but also full of excitement and anticipation to begin his missionary service. He was able to spend part of the evening proselyting. We are happy to have him here with us. Enclosed is a picture of your son with President and Sister Gee.

We have assigned one of our best missionaries as your son’s missionary trainer. His name is Elder Motuapuaka from Taylorsville, Utah. He is pleased to share these first weeks of your son’s mission with him. Their address is:

7215 North MacArthur #4
Warr Acres, OK 73132

For your information, the Mission office telephone number is (405) 601-9926 and that mission home telephone number is (405) 692-2040. Should an emergency arise, please feel free to contact us using these numbers.

As your son begins this wonderful experience, he will have a great desire to share it with you. We encourage your missionary to write or email home every week. Likewise, please know that your weekly email and especially letters are so important to keep him encouraged about the work. Because we, along with you, have a great desire for him to feel happy and successful, we encourage you to express your love and support to him often.

We count it as one our choicest blessing to share this time with your son, as will as the other missionaries who serve with us. We will do our very best to build upon the wonderful foundation that you have already laid. He will bless the lives of may here in Oklahoma as he brings souls unto Christ through dedication, sacrifice and love.

God bless,

James R. Gee
Mission President

Sister Gee, Elder Burnett and President Gee

Thursday, January 3, 2008

1/2/08: Send this to peeps, Dad and Brit!

Hey everyone!!

Things are going well! I am starting to get settled in! The church is amazing! I really never had a testimony but now I cant wait to go serve the people! I had an amazing thing happen in the RC (aka Referral Center) the other day!

A 25 year old lady wanted to chat and had questions about the church! Talked to her for 30 minutes. I talked her into letting the missionaries come over so they can teach her the lessons! I know the church is true!

My Companion is leaving tomorrow, yes!! He is crazy, for real! I have gotten really close with Elder Katoa! He is way tight!

My teachers are amazing! A week and then its game time! Ash your friend Sister Payne is amazing! Really so nice!

DAD - I LOVE YOU!! Thanks for the cookies! The ice cream was a little crazy but still good! I have lost 15 pounds! I have been working out a lot and eating better! Jimmie is running AWAY!! YES!!!!! ha ha! I love you all DAD. I Miss you! You are a man of God and did a great job raising me!

Ash - You are so freaking tight! I love you.

Whit, Paul, Tru and Luke - I love the letters. I love you! I know the church is true!

Britt - YOU ARE AMAZING!! I can't wait to marry you and spend forever with you! WE CAN DO THIS, I KNOW WE CAN!! YOU ARE AMAZING!!

JT - I LOVE YOU CUZ!! Doing it big all the time, cuz! You are so tight! I love you! Thanks for everything!

I miss everyone and love you all! The church is true! The Book of Mormon is a true book of God and has been put here on the earth today for us!! READ IT!! 2 Nephi 4:15 - to the end!

LOVE YOU ALL!! KEEP writing!!!!!!!

BRITTANY I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/26/07: First email from Elder Burnett

(this email was to me personally, Ashley - his sister and keeper of this blog, but I thought I would share it)

I LOVE YOU. This is my e-mail! Hope all is well! I will write more later when I have more time! Today is p-day, so yea! I forgot my iPod and that is what has your email on it so i had to go get it out of my room! Hope all is well! Love you and miss you! Hang in there tomorrow! I know it's going to be a hard day but we can do it together! Give people my email! I love you!! Tell Brittany I love her and that she better wait, please! YOU ARE AMAZING! Thanks for talking to me the other day, it really helped!

Lots of love,
Elder Burnett

p.s. I think I can only check this once a week and it's on Wednesdays, so yea!!

12/19/2007: I Say Goodbye, You Say Hello

On Wednesday, December 19, 2007 Taylor entered the Missionary Training Center (the MTC). Some might say it is the end of one life and the beginning of another. It was almost one day to the year when he promised his mom he would go on a mission. Way to go Tay! Not only is Mom so proud of you, we are too! We love you.

Brit putting Tay's name tag on - now officially Elder Burnett

Grandpa Don, Elder Burnett and Dad

Elder Burnett

Elder Burnett and Justin Thompson

Paul, Luke, Elder Burnett, Whitney and Truman

Dad (aka Scott) and Elder Burnett

Sean Ballew and Elder Burnett

10/17/2007: Where in the World?

On Wednesday, October 17, 2007 Taylor was called to serve in the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission from December 2007 to December 2009.

Oh Taylor, just smile.

He will report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on Wednesday, December 19, 2007.