Hey everyone -
How are things going? I hope all is well! I heard that Utah is getting nailed with snow! Sounds like fun!
Things are going well here! Busy and hard, but good!
We had a good week. We got two committed and we have three others who wanna get baptized. We haven’t set the dates yet but its going well!
I am sore and my body hurts! My knee is still really, REALLY sore and hurts but its getting better! Dr. Welch, from the ward, got me a knee brace and some stuff for it! He said I could use surgery but thinks I should wait until I get home! It’s pretty messed up but it’s okay, I’ll figure it out!
We were walking to the church on Friday for a district meeting and it was really icy! I totally ate it SO, SO, SO HARD!! IT HURT SO BAD! My elbow hurts bad. Laugh it up. It was pretty funny though!
I have lost more weight! I am at 210. When I went into the MTC I weighed 238! Crazy! I am getting in pretty good shape! My legs are cut! It’s pretty tight!
Elder Motua is sick so we didn’t go out yesterday. It kind of sucked, no TV, nothing. We just read and hung out! Some of the other elders came over and chilled with us. It was tight!
I miss everyone and pray for you guys!
Brittany - I love you more than anything! Elder Motua and me were talking the other night about what we have been through together – you are honestly amazing! I was in the biggest hole, my life was a mess and you NEVER gave up on me and on us! You are amazing! I don’t know where I would be without you! I know I would not be here! You are the love of my life and I can’t wait to marry you in the temple for eternity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dad – No, I did not get the shirts! I NEED THEM SO YOU MIGHT WANNA WORK ON THAT!!
Whit - Got your letters, thanks! It is fine if you use the name Susanne but me and Britt get Rachel. We wanna name out girl Riley Rachel Burnett! But it’s fine you got it! Hope all is well! I am excited to see my new little niece! Wish I could be there to see her!
Love you and miss you all.
Elder Burnett
Friday, February 22, 2008
2/12/08: Hey!
Hey everyone -
Things are going great here! I am having so much fun serving the Lord and doing His work! Our two baptisms went really well. The spirit was amazing! I was a witness and then stood in the circle to give her the Holy Ghost! It was cool! We actually committed two more people yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO TIGHT! And hoping to commit two more this week! We are working hard and the Lord is blessing us!
IT’S SO COLD! I hate Oklahoma but love it! We are tearing it up and have being doing a lot of good! The lord is blessing us! Elder Motuaonly had one baptism but we are about to have four together! So we must be doing something right!
At zone conference President Gee called me up in front of 30 missionaries and had me talk about my basektball career and all this stuff, he related it to working hard! It was cool!
I think I am going to buzz my hair today! IT’S SO LONG! Everyone just buzzes it, so, we will see!
My companion is so, SO TIGHT! We have so much fun together. We work hard and keep the spirit with us at the same time! I know the lord is molding me into the missionary he wants me to be! I know the key to success is being humble and know that this is the Lord’s work, we don’t teach, the spirit does! I love having the spirit with me! It’s amazing! I have never felt it like this but I am going to make sure it stays! I had no idea it was going to be this hard!
My knee is messed up. I might have to have surgery on it! NO GOOD! We will see! It popped out of the socket the other day! IT HURTS SO BAD! It’s all black and blue! We have a doctor in our ward and he says it is messed up but I am just trying to work through the pain and hope it heals! It’s getting better but don’t know! We will see what happens!
My companion is getting his wisdom teeth out this week or next, so, I will have to take care of him! YEA, BRITT! I am getting it back in my face! You did such an amazing job of taking care of me when I had mine out! YOU ARE AMAZING!
Ash - I got your pics and the cookies! They were so good! Thanks. I love the pics, they are cute! I am glad Justin and Dan came out and you got to spend time with them! I love you boyz to death and miss yall!
Whit - Have not heard form you but thanks for the meds! Great job!
Dan - I LOVE YOU!!! I heard your party got a little crazy the other night, huh!?! HAHA!!! Take care of my Brittany until I get home!
Justin - WHAT UP MAN!!!! I miss you! I hope all is going well!
JP - Britt told me you called her the other day! YOU ARE SO TIGHT! Thanks for everything! Stay in touch with here! I know she loves talking to you and it means the world to me when you do! I love you!
Kenny Brown - DUDE YALL ARE BALLIN HARD! I saw ya’ll are 8th or 9th! That is so cool, man! Congrats! I miss you and love you!
I am going to miss March Madness but saving peoples souls is pretty cool to though, haha!
The church is true! I can’t wait to raise a family in the church with Brittany and be able to have it part of my life!
BRITTANY - I Love you so, so, so, so much! I could not do this without you! I am so grateful for you. You are such a blessing in my life. I know we are going to get through this together! You are my everything! I love you! You are going to be my wife!
Love you all. Thanks for the letters and emails!
Elder Burnett!
Things are going great here! I am having so much fun serving the Lord and doing His work! Our two baptisms went really well. The spirit was amazing! I was a witness and then stood in the circle to give her the Holy Ghost! It was cool! We actually committed two more people yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO TIGHT! And hoping to commit two more this week! We are working hard and the Lord is blessing us!
IT’S SO COLD! I hate Oklahoma but love it! We are tearing it up and have being doing a lot of good! The lord is blessing us! Elder Motuaonly had one baptism but we are about to have four together! So we must be doing something right!
At zone conference President Gee called me up in front of 30 missionaries and had me talk about my basektball career and all this stuff, he related it to working hard! It was cool!
I think I am going to buzz my hair today! IT’S SO LONG! Everyone just buzzes it, so, we will see!
My companion is so, SO TIGHT! We have so much fun together. We work hard and keep the spirit with us at the same time! I know the lord is molding me into the missionary he wants me to be! I know the key to success is being humble and know that this is the Lord’s work, we don’t teach, the spirit does! I love having the spirit with me! It’s amazing! I have never felt it like this but I am going to make sure it stays! I had no idea it was going to be this hard!
My knee is messed up. I might have to have surgery on it! NO GOOD! We will see! It popped out of the socket the other day! IT HURTS SO BAD! It’s all black and blue! We have a doctor in our ward and he says it is messed up but I am just trying to work through the pain and hope it heals! It’s getting better but don’t know! We will see what happens!
My companion is getting his wisdom teeth out this week or next, so, I will have to take care of him! YEA, BRITT! I am getting it back in my face! You did such an amazing job of taking care of me when I had mine out! YOU ARE AMAZING!
Ash - I got your pics and the cookies! They were so good! Thanks. I love the pics, they are cute! I am glad Justin and Dan came out and you got to spend time with them! I love you boyz to death and miss yall!
Whit - Have not heard form you but thanks for the meds! Great job!
Dan - I LOVE YOU!!! I heard your party got a little crazy the other night, huh!?! HAHA!!! Take care of my Brittany until I get home!
Justin - WHAT UP MAN!!!! I miss you! I hope all is going well!
JP - Britt told me you called her the other day! YOU ARE SO TIGHT! Thanks for everything! Stay in touch with here! I know she loves talking to you and it means the world to me when you do! I love you!
Kenny Brown - DUDE YALL ARE BALLIN HARD! I saw ya’ll are 8th or 9th! That is so cool, man! Congrats! I miss you and love you!
I am going to miss March Madness but saving peoples souls is pretty cool to though, haha!
The church is true! I can’t wait to raise a family in the church with Brittany and be able to have it part of my life!
BRITTANY - I Love you so, so, so, so much! I could not do this without you! I am so grateful for you. You are such a blessing in my life. I know we are going to get through this together! You are my everything! I love you! You are going to be my wife!
Love you all. Thanks for the letters and emails!
Elder Burnett!
1/29/08
Family, Brittany and EVERYONE!
What up everyone!?!? I hope everyone is doing well and everyone is okay! Things are going good here. I am starting to love the work and starting to lose myself but more than that I am starting to find myself and becoming a better person for serving and giving everything I have to the Lord! It is way fun! SUCH HARD, HARD work but I know it will all pay off and the lord will bless mine and Brittany’s family one day!
So nothing really happened this week, just working! We actually have 2 baptisms this Saturday!! Cool, huh!?! We are way stoked; we are hoping to get three other with dates this week, so things are going really, REALLY WELL!
Saturday was a bad day, I was in tears, so upset about everything. Mostly because I didn’t hear from anyone, I just missed the fam AND BRITTANY SO, SO, SO BAD!! I was crying for 45 minutes. Haha. I know, lame right? But it is hard! Then I humbled myself, got on my knees, and prayed for 25 minutes. I have never been so HAPPY!! The power of prayer is amazing! I love being out here! I love everyone and am just soaking it up!
Ash - You are so very welcome for your stuff! Thank you for my cookies and stuff! LOVE IT!
Dad -I LOVE YOU! I am so happy for you! I need those white shirts ASAP!! OK!?! Hope the wedding goes well!
Whit - Thanks for the letters. I have still not gotten that package, no good. I don’t know what happened, or what!?!
Brittany - OH MY!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I miss you but know the Lord will bless our family for my hard work! I love hearing from you! I am so proud of all your hard work in school and being such an amazing person! I cant wait to marry you in the temple!
JP - I got your letter! I will write you back! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! Send me a pic of the new 22's on the H2, baby!!! I bet it looks so, SO tight! MIss you and think about you all the time!
JT - Have fun in NYC! Give Ash a hug and kiss for me! Love you. I sent you a letter yesterday so you should be getting it!
I was so, so sad to hear that President Hinckley died!! So SAD. Someone in the ward asked me, “So, what next big thing will happen in the church?” I said, “President Hinckley dieing because that is the prophet I have grown up with and he signed my mission call!” SO SAD!! He was an amazing man! I know the Lord was happy to get him back!
I love you all! Keep writing. I love, love hearing from you!
BRITTANY, I love hearing from you the most! The VERY MOST!! I love you, princess! You are amazing, that is really the best word that sums you up, AMAZING!!
Love you all.
Elder Burnett!!!!
What up everyone!?!? I hope everyone is doing well and everyone is okay! Things are going good here. I am starting to love the work and starting to lose myself but more than that I am starting to find myself and becoming a better person for serving and giving everything I have to the Lord! It is way fun! SUCH HARD, HARD work but I know it will all pay off and the lord will bless mine and Brittany’s family one day!
So nothing really happened this week, just working! We actually have 2 baptisms this Saturday!! Cool, huh!?! We are way stoked; we are hoping to get three other with dates this week, so things are going really, REALLY WELL!
Saturday was a bad day, I was in tears, so upset about everything. Mostly because I didn’t hear from anyone, I just missed the fam AND BRITTANY SO, SO, SO BAD!! I was crying for 45 minutes. Haha. I know, lame right? But it is hard! Then I humbled myself, got on my knees, and prayed for 25 minutes. I have never been so HAPPY!! The power of prayer is amazing! I love being out here! I love everyone and am just soaking it up!
Ash - You are so very welcome for your stuff! Thank you for my cookies and stuff! LOVE IT!
Dad -I LOVE YOU! I am so happy for you! I need those white shirts ASAP!! OK!?! Hope the wedding goes well!
Whit - Thanks for the letters. I have still not gotten that package, no good. I don’t know what happened, or what!?!
Brittany - OH MY!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I miss you but know the Lord will bless our family for my hard work! I love hearing from you! I am so proud of all your hard work in school and being such an amazing person! I cant wait to marry you in the temple!
JP - I got your letter! I will write you back! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! Send me a pic of the new 22's on the H2, baby!!! I bet it looks so, SO tight! MIss you and think about you all the time!
JT - Have fun in NYC! Give Ash a hug and kiss for me! Love you. I sent you a letter yesterday so you should be getting it!
I was so, so sad to hear that President Hinckley died!! So SAD. Someone in the ward asked me, “So, what next big thing will happen in the church?” I said, “President Hinckley dieing because that is the prophet I have grown up with and he signed my mission call!” SO SAD!! He was an amazing man! I know the Lord was happy to get him back!
I love you all! Keep writing. I love, love hearing from you!
BRITTANY, I love hearing from you the most! The VERY MOST!! I love you, princess! You are amazing, that is really the best word that sums you up, AMAZING!!
Love you all.
Elder Burnett!!!!
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!!
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!
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
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
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