Hermana Kira's Last Email

I don't know if I have ever posted one of Kira's emails on my blog,

but this is her last one before she comes home next week.

I think it is worth posting, it is a little long but worth the read

there are no little notes to me or her dad...

Just her feelings....

Hi Family.Whelp...This is it. The last letter that I am going to be writing to you all for a while. I am trying not to be sad. I feel super weird. It really hasnt hit me yet. It hit me about 5 weeks ago...and then it went away...now I just have blinders on. It kills a little bit. But I know that there are better things waiting for me, so I cant be sad.
This week...was AMAZING. I cant even begin to tell you. We had a wedding and 2 baptisms... I got to be one of the witnesses for the wedding. 45 people showed up for the baptism...a lot of them were investigators. It’s going to be really hard for me to say good bye.
This week we have 5 more baptisms and another wedding planned. I am so excited. I can hardly see straight. Hna Aponte and I were sitting at my desk the other day and she looked at me and said...Hna...I hope that I can end my mission like you. Where you are going to see a lot of the fruits of your work here. I am being so blessed. Heavenly Father really has answered my prayers. He always does doesnt he? Why do we doubt sometimes?
Why dont we relize that our time and his are so different? There are a lot of people that we are teaching that I wont get to see what happens with them, but I know that they are going to progress. I am glad that I am able to leave something for the other Hnas to work with. It is going to be wonderful.
They told my Zone leader when he got here that no one ever baptizes in Centro. I guess Heavenly Father just wanted to show me how much he loved me so he has just put the people that only we could teach in our paths. How amazing is that?
Sunday I was asked to give my last testimony in the scrament. I dont really know what I said, I just know my whole body was shaking. Yesterday we ate empandas with Selva and her family. They are super delish...at the end her and Audriana just cried and cried. I havent yet...Not since a few weeks ago...not really cried. Just the type that tears kind of squeeze out of your eyes sometimes. I told them that they werent allowed to cry anymore because I am not crying. The hardest people for me to say good bye to are going to be Inez and her family and Julio and his family...well and everyone else.
But I know that I am going to be able to tell you all those things to your face. Hehehe.
So Friday at 11:00 Marcelo and Gladis are going to get married. Then that night they are going to get baptized around 8:30 our time. Sunday in between conference sessions Lucia, Karen, and Jonathan are going to get baptized. They are excited. Their parents are ready too, but they just dont want to get married. So, that will come with time. Everything is just going wonderful here.

I think mom summed up my mission in one word. Miracles. One just after the other.
The other thing that I was going to write about Derek robbed in his email. Heavenly Father loves his children. He loves us so much. He wants us to be happy. He would do anything for that. I have found a lot of things in the mission.I found what it means to really love someone. I didnt really know before. I thought I did...but it wasnt this kind of love. I imagine it is kind of like the love that a mother has for her child. It is so amazing to watch the people that you have taught grow and apply the things that have touched their hearts. To watch someone take the testimony of another person and use it in their own lives is a miracle. It is so amazing to watch someone that is in the worst state of a human being, change and really become a new creature. It is real. It does happen that way. I have seen it many times here.I have found what it means to be still...but not just sit and wait...but to do all in your power to make things happen the way that YOU want them too...and then just sitting back to see Heavenly Fathers hand work in the way He wants it too...His way is always better.
I have found that you have fun...but you have to be obedient. The other kind of fun only last for a little while...but if you have fun and you are obedient Heavenly Father gives you all that He has. I have found that they battle between good and evil is real. I already knew that before, but when you are a missionary you are basically on the front lines fighting with all you have.
I have found enternal friends. Some of them were companions...some of them where other elders...some of them were from home...and the rest were people that thought I was teaching them, but they were really teaching me.
I have found that our minutes can be muliplied. This is something that I have just been learning in this last week. Heavenly Father has 1 day to our 1,000 years...So, if I am working in His time like I should be...I will always have the time that I need to complete with all that He asks of me. My 10 minutes will turn to 1 minute of a normal person, if I am working on his time.
I saw a miracle yesterday. We taught 11 lessons before lunch. I dont know how that happens. That is 11 lessons in 2 hours. They were short, powerful and...well...miraculous. This whole week is going to be that way. Every mintue that I have will be turned to 10. I am going to use every second that I have to serve the Lord...the best part is that its not going to end when I get home. That is a comforting feeling.
I have found what real joy feels like.
I have found what the power of a testimony is.
I have found my weaknesses and I am trying to turn them to strengths.
I have found a great love for the leaders of this church...even if they are 19 year old boys.
I have found what power my attitude and my choices have over other people.
I have found that we have divine rolls and callings.Over all.
I have found that the atonement is real. He really did pay a price for us. We can be forgiven and cleaned.
I have found that our pains and frustrations arent anything to what he paid for me.
I found that I can talk to him when I need to.
I have found how to recieve answers to my prayers.
Now...Conference is this weekend.
I just want to remind you all that we get to listen to a prophet of God!!! How cool is that!!!
Thats what I have spent the whole last year and a half testifing of. That in our day there is a prophet. God has always called prophets to guide us. Especially when things were getting bad in the world and to testify that Jesus Christ was getting ready to come.
Now in our day things are bad in the world and Jesus Christ is coming.
Obviously he is going to call a prophet to guide and protect us. It’s just so clear. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. That he restored the church exactly the same as it was established when Jesus was in Jerusalem. He was called of God. He recieved the same power and authority that Jesus has and he passed that power on to others.
I know that through that power we have the opportunity to repent and change the things that we need to in our lives. Everyone has to change. Not just the drug dealers or the child abuser...but the members of the church too. We have to use His atonement completely, because He gave everything, completely. He is willing to change us, we just have to ask for help,
we cant do it alone.
I know that there is revelation today.
I know that President Monson is a prophet. He is talking to God. Just like it has always happened before. When he says he knows...Its becaue HE KNOWS. I am going to do all that I can to apply the things that he teaches into my life. It might mean that I have to change a few things...But Im not afraid of change.
I love the mission.
I love the people in Argentina.
I love the doctrine of the church
...and that we have doctrine...that it is real and inspired and directly from the source.
I am so greatful for my Heavenly Father for the things He has given me and that I was able to be a part of His great work.
I am so greatful for the friends that I have made here.
I am greatful that I have been so taken care of.
I am greatful for the health I have enjoyed here.
I am greatful for family and friends that have always writen me.
I am greatful for my testimony.
I am greatful for parents that taught me about the power of prayer
and how to use the atonement.
I am greatful for my brothers that have always been good examples for me.
I am greatful for my leaders before the mission that prepared me to come here.
I am greatful for my Savior, Jesus Christ
and the opportunity that I have had to get to know Him a little bit better.
I am greatful for my Heavenly Father,
that I was found worthy to be his daughter and that He is always so willing to give me that things that I need.
I am greatful for His plan. Its real. I am part of it.
I will not cry when I go home. If I do it will be from stress. There is nothing to be sad about.
I feel like I have compleated my purposes here. I dont look back with regret. I know that Heavenly Father has another place that He wants me to be now. I dont really know where it is...or what He wants me to do from here, He hasnt quite showed me that part yet
...but I am just doing to do all that I can to be where I need to be when He calls me.
This church is true.
I know it.
I am thankful for every moment that I have had here, but this isnt the end.
I will see you all in a few days. I hope that you are planning a party...a big one. Have a good week, dont get to axious.
Love you tons.
-Hermana Burgess
Argentina Salta Mission

SPT ( A day early)

To see my SPT post of the number 8 that Lelly assigned us ...please see yesterdays post.

8 Days and Counting

I still remember this day like it was yesterday, all the friends and family members had put in their votes to where Kira would go on her mission... and she opened her call to serve.

Her Dad & I sent her flowers to celebrate that

"Argentina Was Lucky To Be Getting Her"

and when Kira got ready to leave she fixed her shelves and walls...putting everything in boxes and placing them under her bed and then everything was "shoved" to the one wall in her room.

Not much has changed in her room while she has been gone.

A few boxes of "treasures" that she has sent home, and a cot for extra company to sleep on.

Kira will be home next Wednesday!

So, I have opened the door to her room.

I think I am in denial that she is REALLY coming home!

I am going to start getting her room ready for her.

No cot... no dust... a vacuumed floor, clean sheets and bedding.

Just her room, her space and her new memories to fill it.

Can You Smell What The Oven Is Baking?

Few things make a home smell like home than fresh bread...

and Banana Nut Bread was in the oven today. Sliced while is is still warm!
My mom's
Banana Tea Bread Recipe

2 2/3 Cup Sugar
1 1/3 Shortening
Cream
add:
8 eggs
4 Cups mashed bananas
Stir until well mixed
add:
7 Cups Flour
8 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Salt
1 Cup Chopped Nuts (or more)

Place in bread pans sprayed well with "Pam".
Bake 350*
1 hour 10 mins.

Seasons By The Birds

If you follow my blog at all you know I watch the seasons come and go by the birds that are around my house.

Fall = Finches

(ok and Spring too but they leave for a while)

Winter = Bald Eagles
alright and Geese tooSpring = Robins
and for Summer...Summer = Pelicans
This guy was in the river next to our dock!!!
I can hardly wait for summer,
I just hate to break it to him that we are supose to have SNOW on Sunday morning!

Country Living

Though we live in Cassia County, we still have a Burley address.

I love living where we do. It is quiet, peaceful and has its own slow pace to life.

This is a picture of a picture of our place in 1992 -but it still looks the same.

What's not to enjoy.

And The Winner Is

If you remember I was stressing out about what to wear for Josh and Ali's wedding.

I had some great advice.

And then came a phone call from my sister to look at this.

I totally love it and so I now have my Mother of the Groom outfit!

SPT

8 relitives... OLD ... matter of fact that is my dad 2nd from the left.

only 3 of the 8 are still living.

What do CTR, Fry Sauce, John Bytheway and Green Jello w/carrots have in common

If any of this makes ANY sense please go visit this blog

What Mormon's Like

This guy totally cracks me up...

and as he politely puts it

"Helping Mormons Laugh at Themselves Because They Feel Guilty Mocking Others"

Dream House

Josh and Ali have been approved to buy their 1st home.

It is a cute cira 1918 house.

Because of it being a "repo"

they have to do the inspection repairs.

After just one day of elbow grease, painting and tree trimming it is already gaining its own little character. (much more work was done after this photo too)
With this type of detail still on the house. It has a great many possibilities!Congrats Josh and Ali! We are excited for you, even if you will be "townies"

There Is Something Wrong With This Picture!

If you may remember from THIS post, I was a little freaked out about when this day arrived.

Kira's countdown is full!! Oh my goodness...I think she is really going to come home soon! Sometimes it feels as if she has been gone forever, and then again like she just left! It puts butterflies in my stomach just thinking she will be here...talking to me...sharing hugs and laughs and memories! I can hardly wait!

Being REAL

I have been doing a lot of deep thinking (yea I know hard to believe) I have been reviewing my life...or lack of it as of the past 4 years.

After I had my heart attack, and all the other "stuff" that came with it, I just kind of died. I quit living.

Once upon a time,

it was nothing to jump on a plane with a friend...just to go...

Shop...until you drop!

Play... anywhere!

Party... no party??? Well, we will make up a reason for one

Laugh...and then laugh even harder...

Live

I lived!!!!

As I said, I have been doing a lot of thinking, and growing mostly spiritually. In the midst of all of this I realized I was missing out on an important principle...This life is called the "Plan of Happiness" not just getting by, not staying in my house afraid to leave for fear I might get sick, or feel weak, not worrying about dieing today.

HAPPINESS!!!

Why did I forget that?

Satan loves for us to be discouraged, it is his favorite tool.

So, today I am going to live! I am going to love life, I am going to live like I once did. And I am going to continue to thank my Heavenly Father everyday for giving me another one to enjoy!

from the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

" to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in.
Never surrender.
Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.
Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart. "

Good Day

There are few things that bring contentment to me more than going to the temple,

Especially with good friends and family.Thanks Kayleen for going with us
Josh with the sun "burning his retinas!!"

SPT

Lelly's SPT for this month is the number 8 I love a good sale.

I LOVE St. Patrick's Day!!

St. Patrick's Day: Facts and Legends
Tuesday, March 17, 2009

To mark St Patrick's Day, Faith Central has compiled celebratory tidbits, some myth, some fact, on the Patron Saint of the Irish.
1. The potato crop was traditionally planted in Ireland after March 17
2. Blue not green is the color originally associated with St Patrick. “St Patrick’s Blue” is used on Ireland's Presidential Standard or flag, while the Irish Guards sport a plume of St Patrick’s blue in their bearskins. The emphasis on green is thought to be linked to “wearing the Green”, a symbol from the 18th century on, of sympathy with Irish independence.
3. St Patrick is patron of fishermen in the Loire, where a legend associates him with a blackthorn bush. The saint is said to have slept beneath it, and when he awoke the next day, Christmas, the bush flowered, and was said to have continued to do so every Christmas until its destruction during the First World War.
4. A regiment of the Mexican army in the 1846 -8 War between Mexico and America was named after St Patrick. Members of the Batellón de San Patricio included Afro-Americans freshly liberated from the slave plantations of the South, and the soldiers were granted Mexican citizenship afterwards.
5. The first St Patrick’s Day parade took place in 1737 in Boston, followed in 1762 by New York. George Washington allowed his soldiers a holiday on March 17, 1780 as “an act of solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence.”
6. Until the 1970’s, all pubs were shut in Ireland on St Patrick’s Day, and the sole venue selling drink the annual dog show. Lenten fasting – and the obligation to abstain from meat – were lifted on the day, which most families would begin with Mass.
7. St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland and also in Monserrat "the Emerald Isle of the Carribean,” so called because it was settled in 1633 by Irish migrants from St Kitts.
8. According to legend, on the day of Judgement, while Christ judges all other nations, St Patrick will be the judge of the Irish.
9. Since 1962, tons of green dye are tipped on St Patrick’s Day into the Chicago river, although the quantity has reduced, for environmental reasons, from 100 to 40.

BUT here is my favorite thing about St. Patrick's Day

RUBEN SANDWICHES

You will find many different recipes for Ruben's but this is the one that is LOVED by my family

7 grain bread (the large loaf) or Rye bread if you can find it

Butter

Thousand Island Dressing (DON'T YOU DARE PUT MAYO ON A RUBEN!!!)

COOKED Slices of Corn Beef...the more the better :-)

Swiss Cheese

Sauerkraut (don't be gagging and turning up your nose..TRY IT!!!)

Directions:

Butter your "down sides of your bread"

add Thousand Island dressing to the inside of bread (both pieces)

add cheese

sauerkraut

corn beef

and

another slice of cheese

add second piece of bread

Place on a skillet and toast like you would a cheese sandwich.

You will have to cook at a lower temp., so that everything will warm and that you do not burn your bread.

I will put a lid on the top of mine to help with the cooking.

Tradition is:

You must have potato chips (see Irish history) with your ruben and a slice of dill pickle.

And there you have it!!

A REAL (Janiece's) RUBEN SANDWICH

My "River Rat" Is Home!

Kirk arrived home safe and sound after his 2 weeks on the Colorado River/Grand Canyon rafting trip. The first thing he did (after my kiss) was show us all the pictures he had taken.

The group he rafts with call thenselves the "RIVER RATS" It is fun to see new faces join, but always comforting to see the same tried and true group.

After seeing his pictures, I understand why people wait 10 years to get drawn to raft this area of the Colorado River.

Anastasi Indians Ruins

What I Believe

"Do Lunch"

I recieved a phone call from "Miss Whit" asking if I would like to go to lunch today,

because she didn't have school. YES! I would love to "do lunch"!
Thanks, Whit and Kayleen I enjoyed myself very much!

¿Hablas español?

I thought it would be a fun surprise for Kira when she gets home if I knew a

little Spanish/Castellano. So, I found a great tutor who is helping me so much. I look forward to our lessons each week.

But, my favorite thing to study and read is:
I love reading this book.
I am able to understand so much of it and this is truly amazing to me.
I may only know a few words in Spanish, but the Spirit speaks to the heart.
And entiendo que esta.