This week was so full of miracles. And Birthday Shout Outs

Isabel Camille Fisher

Delaney Amber Nelson

Wade Dean Burbank

Three of my favorite people just or are just about to get one year older!! 

Just a quick shout out to all of them...because I love them.

This week was so full of miracles. We found a family that lives about 12 km out of the city, and they are so ready to be members. We took the Bishop and his wife to go visit them last Saturday and they were instant friends. Turns out the mom of this family is an amazing singer and since Bishop and his wife are music teachers, it was just perfect. Bishop even brought his guitar and they all sang to us before we left. It was one of the most memorable nights of my mission. I love this area because I feel like every where we go we sing, or eat. Which are pretty much my two most favorite things to do ever.

Also, Bishop surprised me on Saturday and asked me to speak the next day in Sacrament meeting. Which was my first time ever speaking in a Sacrament meeting in Thai. I was pretty nervous. But it went really well. I just have to say that the Gift of Tongues is a REAL THING. I can't even stress that enough. As I was speaking it was as if someone was guiding my thoughts. It was the coolest experience ever. I can't even believe I gave a talk in Thai. Speaking in Sacrament Meeting and teaching in Thai is so different. But I love both! God is so good. 

I hope everything is going great and everyone isn't too cold. The weather is a scorching 91 degrees here in Roi et. But it's as if it doesn't even phase me anymore. This is HOME! 

I challenge everyone to find someone to serve this week. And make it anonymous! :)

Love from Thailand! 

Sister Burbank

Sister Yang and I - We love each other so much! 

 FHE 

To Bangkok and Back

This week though. 

We had MLC (missionary leadership council) this last week so a majority of my week was spent on a bus. Getting to Bangkok and back. But honestly it was a lot of fun, but I am seriously exhausted. 

The training was AMAZING. I love President and Sister Johnson and the AP's. Everything was so perfect as we enter our Vision for 2016.

EVERYTHING'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE HERE IN THAILAND! 

Right now the focus is getting our 3 Stakes that we current have to explode into 8 Stakes!! 

Which is more than possible. I am attaching the talk that we have been studying about the church in Nicaragua because that is the vision for Thailand right now. READ THIS TALK! It will pump you up! Here is the link also: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/09/nicaragua-hungering-for-the-beautiful-fruit?lang=eng

We are getting better at working with members and increasing the fire all over Thailand for missionary work! You can just feel the energy in the air. IT'S SO INCREDIBLE! I can't even explain it. I feel so grateful to be serving here at this time and join with the last 50 years of missionaries in laying the ground work for this Temple in Thailand. I just want to thank every missionary that has ever had a part in building the Kingdom of God here in Thailand because Thailand couldn't do it without EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! And I also want to thank all the members that sacrifice so much each and everyday to keep the church growing. You are SO respected and loved! <3

This last Sunday we had our stake president stand up and announce that on NOVEMBER 2nd 2016 is the 50th Anniversary of Missionary Work in Thailand. They are planning a HUGE festival for it and inviting every missionary that have ever served here. I am want to be here!! It's going to be incredible. 

I don't know how to fully express how I feel about this mission, but I love it. With every little ounce of my little self. I LOVE THAILAND. I LOVE THESE PEOPLE. I LOVE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.

As STL, I have the opportunity to travel to many cities in Thailand and train missionaries on what President Johnson trains us on. This last week we trained in Korat, Kalasin, and Roi Et. It was such a great experience! After finally getting back Saturday afternoon from training, we had our cute little 15 year old investigator Sister Pop get interviewed. She passed with flying colors and then we had her baptism just yesterday! Her cousin, Brother First (18 yrs), was there to support her. Before Sister Pop got baptized he was the only member in his family! I am so excited to see more of his family follow his righteous example. I love that family so much. They are incredible musicians which obviously I'm more than okay with! Singing and jamming on the guitar to "Come Thou Fount" in Thai has never been so fun. Life is so good!!  

I love this invitation from Christ, Himself - "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." [3 Nephi 9:14]

What could be a greater promise than that?? 

This is what it is all about. Through the temple we are sealed to our families for time and for all eternity. To enjoy the blessing of eternal life. TOGETHER. What could be more desirable than that? Death is not the end...we will be with our loved ones again. 

I know that through Jesus Christ that this is made possible. I know that because over this last year I have prayed and struggled and agonized over that very truth here in Thailand. And through diligent prayer, scripture study and the tender whisperings of the Holy Ghost I can finally say it. I KNOW THAT FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER. I KNOW IT.

And my most deepest desire for all of you is that you might KNOW it too. Really, really KNOW it.

So COME UNTO HIM, and discover just HOW Jesus Christ truly is the answer to every question you've ever had.

"...Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee. How Great Thou Art..." (#86 - How Great Thou Art)

Love you.

Sister Burbank

Brother First and Sister Pop (Families are FOREVER)

Sister Pop and พ่อจันทร์

Happy New Year! - 2016

Our New Years in a nutshell..

We went to a Dinosaur Museum today for FREE! And I carved my name into a cactus...try one up-ing that.

I think someone has been posting more pictures on Facebook??

So maybe check those out..

But anyways!

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE! 

2016 มาแล้ว !! 

Love you all! Talk to you in a few days. Miracles like crazy over here....I am serious! The work is exploding!!!! 

Sister Burbank

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

What a beautiful day. 

Thanks to everyone that sent me Christmas love! You are all so lovely. 

I hope everyone has fun with their families and remembers the true meaning we celebrate this season! 

Luke 2:11 - "For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

ALL MY LOVE FROM THAILAND! 

Sister Burbank

Skyping from Thailand Christmas 2015

Christmas aftermath in our apartment

My family skyping from Vancouver WA

My letter to President Johnson this week

Mom, Here is my letter to President Johnson: You can post this as the post this week.

Hi President! 

You and Sister Johnson are so fantastic! Always a pleasure to see you and hear you speak! Stake conference was wonderful. It was so incredible to see all of the members from my old area, Sisaket. It made be reflect on how far I have come and how much I have really grown to love these people. I also got to see two of my RC's from that area and there is NOTHING like that feeling of seeing those you help come unto Christ still active and at their first stake conference. I have been so blessed. What a joy it is to be a disciple of Christ! Thank you for your email today... that was so great. I also love that scripture. I am a Disciple of Christ. I have an experience to share while inviting here in Roi Et. This government official stopped and talked to us and asked about what we were doing here in Thailand. After we told him he asked questions about what kind of schooling we had to go to in order to become a missionary. In that moment, I realized how God has literally being preparing me for a mission since I was born. Whether I knew it or not. And that the calling I received was a life time call to the work. Not just 18 months. I was able to bare testimony to this man that we didn't receive any type of formal schooling before coming to serve. That we truly came by means of faith. And that we believe our calling is not just to strengthen people while here in Thailand for 18 months but to strengthen anyone who we ever come in touch with for the rest of our lives because Christ is our exemplar. He seemed really impressed and touched by that and said he would check out the website we invited him to look up. I don't know if it will lead to anything in the future but I know that this experience changed and strengthened my testimony. God is ever aware of us, and Christ forever loves us. That truth I will never deny.

I love this Christmas Season President! And I love this mission!! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you! 

Love,

Sister Burbank

12 days of Christmas countdown..letters from home

Singing in Thai

Making Cinnamon buns

Made Brownies- recipe from home

 Ice Cream with S. Yang! 

An almost complete District picture...missing our DL and Elder Sen! But that's okay. This is how we get to Stake Conference here in Roi Et. 555

 Pool Baptism! 555+ Coolest experience

The Christmas Spirit is definitely here in ROI ET Thailand

All I have to say this week is CHRISTMAS IS HERE!! 

Whoever said you couldn't find Christmas in Thailand???

Apparently they were just not looking hard enough because the Christmas Spirit is definitely here in ROI ET! 

But lets start at the beginning...

Monday-Tuesday - I flew to Bangkok......WHAT? Being STL feels no different until they make me go to all these meetings!! 555+ But it was really great to see President and Sister Johnson and hear everyone's testimonies. I think what impressed me the most though was hearing us all sing the opening and closing Hymns...it has been a while since I have last heard Hymns sung in English and with that kind of Spirit. It was incredibly moving. I wish I could somehow capture that feeling and bottle it up for rainy days. It was so wonderful. 

Wednesday - Still in Bangkok....So 7 new Thai Sister Missionaries came into the mission this last Wednesday, so we had a mini transfer meeting. Sister Larson is now training Sister Phosawad (S. Pat) from Don Meaung and she is AMAZING. I love her so much. Presdient Wisan baptized her when she was 8 years old, and she knows the Grover's pretty well. We have so many mutual friends, so she loves to just sit and chat about that. I love it. She is 24 years old and just a perfect missionary. I am learning so much from her.....Her first day in the mission she went and harvested rice once she got back from Bangkok on Thursday... 555+ Gotta love Roi Et.

Thursday - Sister Larson and I went together to go train in Korat with the ZL's. So Sister Yang (My companion) and Sister Phosawad (Sister Larson's new comp) traveled back to Roi Et alone together. SO MUCH TRAVELING. At this point I haven't been back in my area since Sunday. Since Monday we went and visited a bunch of tourist sites outside of Roi Et, and Monday night we flew out. So my energy level is like zero. But I think this experience has given me so much respect for the Apostles and President Monson, and President and Sister Johsnon for that matter. Their schedules are even more busy and seriously CRAZY. I don't know how they do it. God really does strengthen you out here...that is REAL. Until you experience that you will never truly understand what that means.

Friday - All of the Sisters in the Zone came and spent the night in Roi Et!! We literally had 10 Sisters here at once!! It was crazy. I wish I got a picture....But it was alot of fun and honestly everyone was just happy....No drama...No contention...I think back to before my mission and how without fail if you put 10 girls in a room together who had completely different personality someone would come out of it offended. But that just isn't the case here. And it's only because we all are consecrated servants of Christ. We aren't focused on ourselves. The Gospel of Jesus Christ works....10 completely different Sister Missionaries are evidence of that...NO CAT FIGHTS! 

Saturday - CHRISTMAS ZONE DEVOTIONAL - SO MUCH FUN. I don't even know how to describe it. We watched The BEST TWO YEARS. Which was hilarious and I feel like makes so much more sense now that I have been a missionary. 555+ Afterwards, Sister Larson and I did a duet with Elder Reid (Yes from Harmony Ward) on the piano. We sang a medley of White Christmas and Silent Night. Elder Reid made it up....it was incredible. So much fun singing with Sister Larson. SHE IS A BOSS SINGER. Also had an interview with President Johnson and that was so wonderfully inspired. Nothing beats interviews with your mission President. All in all it was such a great day and we even did a White Elephant exchange and a catered Turkey Dinner!! We ate Turkey in Thailand!! Miracles.

Sunday - MIRACLE: We went and visited an LA with แม่ Jumpy after church named Brother First. He is an 18 year old RC who has just been struggling lately. So we biked out 7 km and visited him. Turns out he is an incredible singer and guitarist so the lesson turned into a straight up jamming session. After him and his 15 year old sister performed for us, we had the impression to perform for them. Sister Yang happened to know Come Thou Fount on the guitar and I happen to know the words. So we sang for them. You could see the spirit working on them. After words we shared the true meaning of Christmas. Showed the "A Savior is Born" video and committed them to pray every single night and write down one blessing every night until Christmas. They accepted and then the miracle happened. His 15 year old sister at this point knows nothing about us really. She has been to church once and prayed once but she really doesn't know anything about what this Church is about. But the spirit prompted her to ask us a question...and that question just happened to be "What is Baptism? What is this thing my brother went and did?".....It took us completely off guard and we realized how much better the spirit was at being a missionary than we were. We explained baptism and then asked her to give the closing prayer....she prayed and thanked God for finally understanding what baptism is and for having us come over. It was so simple. But such a great cherry on top to an amazing week. Fasting WORKS! God is REAL...this is not a cunningly devised fable. After that lesson we proceeded to bike another 12 km in the opposite direction...to visit the Elders Quorum Presidents wife who was sick. Which makes a total of about 20+ km biked in a single afternoon...in a skirt. You would think I would be sore today! But not at all. I feel completely normal. Seriously! MIRACLES....

So that was my week! I hope this gives a little insight into why I am INSANELY happy right now on my mission. God is protecting me and comforting me ever single second of this journey. I can't even explain how good that feels.

I hope everyone has caught the Christmas Spirit and can help others learn the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Christ was born to be our Savior and Redeemer, and that is why we celebrate! Rejoice the Lord is KING! 

Love,

Sister Burbank

Me and Sister Phosawad from Don Meuang 

Selfie with the Plane :)

Cambodian Sister is coming to serve in Thailand! And get this she is friends with the Cambodians we baptized in Srinakharin. SMALL WORLD.

Mini Transfers!! 

Christmas Party Saturday with Sister Yang!! 

พ่อ Jun as Santa!!! 555++++

Our Zone Christmas Picture! Merry Christmas from the Roi Et zone!! 

Harvesting Rice!

Can you believe it? A year ago this last week I was in the MTC having a devotional by Elder and Sister Bednar! It honestly feels like it was just yesterday. Oh a more exciting note though. This last week was CRAZY. So last Tuesday for the first time in my life I harvested rice for a member!!  Out here during rice harvesting season life for everyone just stops. A strong member here named Brother ปอ is a full time accountant but his office shut down for 2 days so everyone could go out and harvest rice. Literally rice is life here. That is no stereotype. 555+ It was so fun though. We were able to help another member out this last Friday too. It actually has become an inviting technique too. If they reject us inviting them to church, then we invite ourselves to help them harvest rice. They usually just laugh at us because they think all these Americans couldn't possibly know how to harvest rice, but then we just remind them that 5 minutes ago they assumed the same thing about us being able to speak Thai. I love these people so much! 555+ Then Wednesday was the Lantern Festival in Thailand which I can't think of how to explain in English. But it was really cool actually. And there were tons of fireworks. Then Thursday was Thanksgiving and honestly we did absolutely nothing! 555+ But it was fun going to visit some of the LA members houses and giving them orange paper hand turkeys (you know from elementary school) to write 5 things they were grateful. One for each finger. They all seem to love that. So that was cute. Then Friday and Saturday....two of the weirdest days of my mission. We went from sickling rice Friday morning and meeting with a member of the Seventy Friday night. It was the coolest experience of my mission. Ward Roi-Et had a personal fireside from Elder Khanakham (the first Thai member of the Seventy) and only about 30-40 people went. So it ended up feeling like I was the only one in the room! 555+ And the entire thing was in Thai. Which blew my mind even more because not only am I sitting in the same room with a member of the Seventy who has most definitely spoken with the prophet himself, but this man is speaking THAI and I understand him! It was just a huge reflection moment for me. I just can't believe that last year I couldn't speak Thai and that this year I can (well relatively speaking, because lets be honest, I will never REALLY know Thai). But that is a HUGE blessing. It has taken me 20 years to learn English and I still can't even speak that very well. 555+ Especially now! But just wow! Elder Khanakham has such an amazing disposition about him. He is so warm and loving. He radiates with the spirit. And he teaches with the spirit. And so does his wife. I think the most amazing thing is that they were actually Senior Couple Missionaries in Roi-Et for about 7 months of their mission. So this visit was like coming home for them. So cool. Life is so good right now. I am a little sick, and I slept wrong on my neck last night so I can't really move it, but it doesn't even matter because I am just happy! Just constantly happy. The members here I love...and I really have found more and more reasons why I was called to serve here. I love this work, and I love my Savior! 

Love you all so much. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and didn't get too crazy for Black Friday. Having a great week!! TOMORROW IS DECEMBER WHICH MEANS CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!!!! I am so excited. The Christmas Season is the best, even if they don't celebrate it here! Keep smiling,  there's really no reason not too! 

Sister Burbank 

Before I cut off my finger with the sickle. 555+

The District harvesting rice! 

What we look like after 

I love this country.

 Me and my กระธง I made. They are made out of banana leafs and the stem of the tree! 

Our District at the lantern festival! 

Us and members before we ลอย our กระธง's 

Met "Miss Thailand" women. Apparently she was born in Roi Et so she came back to visit. Crazyyyyyy....famous Thai people!