For The Rest of Our Lives

First off, I could not believe that Lachlan is baptized...nor that Kendra and Kiersten are home. WHAT IS THIS!? 

Second off, I thought about Natedawg [McBride] a lot this week. I know he is doing well. Keep supporting the McBride family.  If there is something I am learning in the mission it is that no one is immune to trials, that we need to support one another for the rest of our lives because that is what this work is all about. 

What differences have you seen in Ky? I am really trying to use the Atonement and to be better myself... I hope that we can see a difference when I come home because that´s really what this life is about, huh?

Well we are doing good over here. We are seeing the little miracles of everyday.

Something to share this week is my GRATITUDE for being extremely clean and teaching me how to clean because this week we did service in a place and DEBERAS DE QUE I had an anxiety attack because it was so dirty. It was like Hoarders. It was seriously like that. So that was crazy. But we cleaned, and cleaned and cleaned, and at the end it was clean...ish. IT WAS also like Hoarders in that we had a hard time choosing what to throw away... don´t tell but when they weren't looking I just started chucking stuff in the garbage... including the unopened mail from 2006... hahaha. oh my goodness gracious I love the experiences of the mission. 

I Hit 7 Months!!!

This week was amazing! I love being here in Obregon. Our area is very small, but lots of people with a lot of potencial live within the boundaries. My Spanish is getting really really good, I can understand everything as if it was English, and also I can almost almost say everything that I want to... I am so blessed by our Heavenly Father with the gift of tongues. Yay for blessings! Heavenly Father is awesome. 

The hermana R is so awesome! So sweet and she wants to do what is right. We are going to have lots of success in this cambio. She is really easy to get along with, so we are having a great time. 

This week was awesome because I have literally never felt the prayers for me so strong in all of my mission! I could feel the strength from the prayers that are being said for me and it gave me a lot of animo. Which I am realizing is not a word in English... umm... like encouragement. 

Some Hermanas in our Zone*The Crew Back Together Again
My Companion and I

Compañera Mayor In Ciudad Obregón

This week was probably one the hardest weeks that I have had on the mission. I think that I passed through a little bit of depression this week. It was really hard. I felt empty, and alone. But I know that we have to pass through moments like that so that we can appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And I came out on top with a lot of prayer and a lot of scripture study and faith, and I have a stronger testimony because of it. So in every trial there is a blessing, right? Satan can´t beat me. 

Cherish Every Moment

Well this week was a little harder than the last couple weeks have been... but that is okay!  I have heard that Ky`s homecoming was the bomb.com. I am so proud of him! It`s still super weird to see pictures of him with all of you. We haven`t all been together for more than 2 years! Makes me so happy to hear that he is already going to the temple frequently. I think about the temple a lot, and how good it feels to be there. I love the temple! I am so excited to enter again in a year or so. 

It is funny because I am starting to forget more and more what the United States is like. For example, my companion asked me what the houses are like over there. I told her I have no idea. I think that`s a good thing! Cause it means that we are working really hard over here but it`s sure weird that the little unsignifacant things (like how to spell) I am forgetting. 

JOY!

Hey.  How goes the work?

Let me just tell you, this was probably one of the best weeks that I have had as a missionary. Or perhaps in my entire life. You know that scripture in DyC when it says ¨How great shall be your joy if you bring one soul unto me?¨(or something like that, English really isn`t my thing anymore. Well, I FELT THAT JOY! I totally felt that joy. And it was awesome because it helped some of the sadness that`s been there since Nathan passed away.

Hermana Burton and friends

So many amazing things happened this week. I am seriously learning so much from my companion. She ain`t perfect and I ain`t perfect but we are going so well together. I seriously can see my progression as a person. I think... Heavenly Father is helping me become a peacemaker. Let me just tell you, it ain`t easy... but VALE LA PENA.

I have been wanting to tell you forever that I play the piano allll the time. I am getting way better too. Now I can play like almost all the hymns in the hymnbook and I LOVE PLAYING the piano. So thank you so much for forcing me all those years (just kidding you never forced me) and for my teachers and thank you for encouraging me because now we get to go bless the life of others through the talents God helped me develop.

Six Months

HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my goodness, I was so happy to get those pictures. I was so so so excited.  Ky, that outfit is CLASSIC Italian. You look good, brother! 

The poster is too much for me! I L.O.V.E. it!!!

Well. What can I say. This week, my testimony of the Plan of Salvation grew a thousand billion times over. I have had very sacred experiences studying the scriptures, teaching others, and understanding more and more about the plan of God in our lives. I know what is coming after this life, and I want and need to give it all I can in this life so that I can achieve that vision after this life. 

I really really love having a Mexican companion because I am having a really hard time thinking in English right now. Haha. How cool that I am starting to master this language. I would say I am fluent now. It´s such a blessing from Heavenly Father. 

Sorry this letter is so random, it´s just all of my thoughts in one. 

Surety

Homecoming 2011

Note from Audrey's mom: Hermana Burton's friend, Elder McBride, also serving in another mission in Mexico died suddenly on Friday.
News article on Elder McBride

Needless to say, I am a little sad. But I am writing to you last so that my emotions could be controlled and the Savior could help me pull myself together. I guess I am kinda numb right now, but that´s okay too.   Man. This is really hard. I loved Nathan like my brother. We used to disagree about everything...but in the end we always could look over our differences. I remember when we took mission prep together...he was so prepared. And the Lord knew that his time was done. Man. 

Okay, well there are also good things happening this week. The Lord had one more return to His flock this week! A was baptized Saturday and confirmed Sunday. Hermana C and I work really well and really hard together. She is teaching me a lot about patience. I really love her. We are seeing lots of success in the field with some of our investigadores. 

My prayers are going out to the McBride family, I can´t even imagine what they are feeling right now but I know with a SURETY that everything is going to be okay. That we will see tall skinny Nathan again. Ahhhh McChicken. Now he´s serving on the other side. He´s so young... but I know God knows better than I. 

Ky comes home on my 6 month mark! How exciting! I love him so very much. Tell me how it goes! Send me a lot of pictures! 

Don´t really have a lot to say... like I said I am kind of numb.  I love you, this church is true, and that I am eternally grateful that families are forever. 

Love, 
Hermana Burton