Happy Mothers Day

WHAT DO I EVEN SAY RIGHT NOW?

So much to say, and so little time.

Can I just start by saying, 

My mom is the best person in the entire earth!!

Skyping my family today was so great! And today I actually realized how funny they really are.

I have been so blessed with the parents that I have and for my 3 crazy brothers, who don't even write me. 555

But I'm not bitter. ;)

I think the greatest part was how easy it was to just talk. It was like I had never left. 

After skyping, I just feel re-energized to just go out and serve!! 

These last few weeks have been really tough for Sister Anderson and I, but I feel like we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I seriously love her more than anyone. This companionship was so inspired, and she will never understand the impact she has had on me. I have been built this transfer in a way that I never thought I could be built. 

I think the biggest miracle of it all is how much my mom helped through all of this. 

She wasn't even here experiencing this, but I see so much of my mom in Sister Anderson that sharing my mom's life experiences has inspired her.

I honestly cannot think of a better Mother's Day Tribute than that.

I love my mom.

I love Sister Anderson.

I love this work.

And I love my Father in Heaven.

Who is TRULY the only person that really knows you.

My aunt sent me this quote she heard from Bonnie Oscarson today and it was honestly so inspired because it spoke right to me. I want to share it with all of you! 

“Our Father loves His children; we are central to His work; He is aware of the intimate details of our lives and stands ever ready and anxious to bless us with every possible good thing He can,” said Sister Oscarson. “This is especially true as we make every effort possible to honor our covenants with Him.”

It touched me so deeply. I can't even describe how much I needed to hear that this week.

God is mindful of His children.

Always.

I hope all the mothers out there feel how much they are loved this day and everyday! 

I can't even imagine where I would be without mine.

Love from Thailand! 

Sister Burbank

More elephants

I was part of the show!

Elephant truck chair

On the back of an elephant

Our Elephant Caravan

Just crashed on the bike.. no permanent damage done.

 Downpour rain storm

"Do or do not, there is no try"

สวัสดี

I really don't have anytime to write, but I just want everyone to know that I am alive! :)

Hope you guys have a great week.

I love you! 

Spiritual Thought:

"A great indicator of one's personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others."- Howard W. Hunter

As we focus on our own personal conversion, sharing the gospel will no longer be a chore, but our deepest desire. I have experienced moments like that on my mission, where the work was not taxing, but freeing. I think the hardest part is consistency. Consistently being at that level of conversion where all you desire is to serve God. I'm still not there, but ever upward.

But in the wise words of Yoda: 

"Do or do not, there is no try."

So...I guess I'll just keep doing. :)

May the Fourth Be With You.

(How could you think I would get through this whole letter and not make a Star Wars reference...ITS MAY 4th!!! ไง)

Love,

Sister Burbank

I didn't even have to sign a waiver!?

My companion did this drawing of us. HAHA

I LOVE TEACHING

สวัสดี

How do I even accurately describe this last week. 

We taught 13 investigator lessons which was absolutely insane. Especially this being my first real experience with having to lead lessons. At the beginning of the week I felt a little awkward having to teach, but by the end of the week I realized how much God really has qualified me to be in this training position. Sister Anderson is doing great. It is hard to watch her go through the struggles that we all go through at the beginning of our missions. I remember all too well how that is like. But I just keep praying that she can find comfort. I wish I could give her the experience and knowledge I have. I honestly just feel kind of helpless. I love her so much though. I can't even explain to you how much I love her. She is the perfect companion for me right now. I have honestly been so blessed with companions on my mission! I love them ALL so much, and they all came into my mission at the most perfect times. 

Right now we are teaching two families! Sister มุก's parents, and Sister นิม's family. We have a goal for both of those families to get baptized this weekend! Which would mean 5 baptisms just this next week! Seriously such a miracle. I can't even believe how blessed I am to know any of these people. Their faith strengthens me every day and reminds me WHY I am here on my mission. We have had a chance to teach almost all 5 lessons just in this last week, and it made me realize just how true all of this really is. 

After all the fun and games, and the laughing and the excitement of being a missionary, I feel like this last week everything was really brought into reflection. I was really required to "grow up" this week in a way. A lot faster than I ever expected too, but knowing how I am, I am pretty much the "just throw me in the water" type of person. Which is pretty much how this week felt. It was a huge test to see if I learned anything from my companions this last 4 months. I am just grateful I didn't sink. I have actually seriously enjoyed this so much! I have found a new found love for teaching. I LOVE TEACHING. Now that I actually can. I can actually speak Thai enough to teach. It just blows my mind that I can understand, teach and actually have some kind of conversation with these people. One scripture I read this morning really touched me. 

Alma 26:37 - "Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

God really is mindful of us. I can't really explain a lot in detail about the sacred personal spiritual experiences that I have had this week. But just know that I KNOW God is mindful of us. 

I felt it. The love of God really is "most joyous to the soul." (1 Nephi 11:23) 

I really wish I could share the spiritual experiences that have undoubtedly changed my mission, and my life. But sharing them really wouldn't have benefit for anyone else. It is something that you have to come to on your own, and experience yourself.

But I promise you, these special sacred experiences I have had only came because I was studying the Book of Mormon, praying, and obedience to all of God's commandments. That really is all He asks. I feel like a broken record because the answer to almost every question is the same, but that is because it is true. 

Pray.

Study the Book of Mormon.

Go to Church.
Keep the Commandments.

That's how you find God. 

I seriously could have never imagined life could feel this good.

Love,

Sister Burbank

District Pizza Day

Whole pizza for each person 2 for 1 deal

 Ice cream, sticky rice and peanuts, YUMMY

Cute Kid

I am training a brand new missionary. Sister Anderson from Washington.

สวัสดีจาาาาาาาาาาาาาาาาาาาา 555 (only a handful of you will understand why that's funny)

ANYWAYS.

Another week has come and gone. And some how they just keep getting better. 

I spent almost all of last week in Bangkok but after THURSDAY I got my new companion!!! :) 

SISTER ANDERSON

พอดีว่า she is from Washington too! 

And with no shock to anyone in the mission her name starts with an "A". Just like every single one of my last companions. 555 (Sister Alley, Sister Adams, and now Anderson). Okay. I guess Sister Remington didn't start with an "A", but her first names "Auburn" so I am sensing a trend.

Eventually, I am going to have to run out of sisters in the mission for me to be companions with. What is President going to do once I've been companions with all the "A's"!?!? 555

Anyways, SHE IS AWESOME. 

She just got to Thailand too, so I have the honor of watching her fall in love with Thailand like I have.

Something she said yesterday made me laugh.

"I think it is unhealthy how fast I have become obsessed with Thailand." - Sister Anderson

That's what I love to hear! :) 

We have had a great first few days after the transfer.

We have been teaching so many families lately! I love it! 

Just yesterday we went and taught a few referrals from a member in the ward.

We went in not sure what to expect, but we ended up teaching a mother and son about the Plan of Salvation. We explained the importance of baptism in the Plan of Salvation, and they are now on date to get baptized next Sunday. It's incredible to see who the Lord has prepared to receive His gospel. Some people are just ready. I love seeing the light in their eyes. It's something I will never get enough off.

This is real. Everything about this gospel is REAL. In the words of Elder Bednar this is "ABSOLUTE TRUTH". I can't explain it. I can't prove it. I can just testify of it. 

I know:

-Jesus Christ is our Savior.

-Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration.

-The Book of Mormon is the word of God.

-God answers prayers

Hope everyone is as happy as I am.

Love,

Sister Burbank

3 generations Sis Alley (my trainer), Sis Burbank and Sis Anderson (my Greenie)

Chilling in Bangkok

Love this background. This is Sis Adams and I after we ate at Sizzlers in Bangkok

Me, Sister Anderson, Sister Adams (The new and the old) 

Reunited and it feels so GOOD! I love my trainer.

We ran into this lady at the mission office, I first met her at temple square last October 2014.

 First Companion picture in Sisaket! We are so ready. I LOVE SIS. ANDERSON

I love Thailand! Happy Thai New Year everyone!

สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์ 

This week has been insane! So Tuesday morning we got back from Bangkok, then Wednesday I went on an exchange in Ubon. Got back Thursday morning, and then prepared for conference on Saturday and Sunday.

Then Monday was Thai New Year! 

Then Tuesday we left for Bangkok! 

That is why I am emailing today instead of Monday.

All the internet runs were closed because of สงกรานต์.

We are having transfer tomorrow and I am so excited to see who my new companion is!! Sister Adams has been amazing. She is finishing her mission tomorrow! She has been the perfect companion and I am going to miss her for sure.

I feel like I never have time to write emails anymore. Sorry about that. I have been traveling so much lately, I swear I never actually am in Sisaket! 555

But this next transfer should be different. I am so happy to be staying in Sisaket! 

I love Thailand! Happy Thai New Year everyone! 

Here's a quote that I love from Maxwell: (I left my conference journal in Sisaket so I will write about that next p-day)

"There is a difference between loving God and merely believing that we ought to love him."

We need to make sure we are keeping the commandments for the right reasons. I LOVED Elder Utchdorf's talk from conference!! LOVE LOVE LOVED IT.

Also, we got to finally watch the Temple Announcement even though we have already known for this whole last week. It still felt just as unreal. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS REAL LIFE. Thailand is actually going to get a temple! I feel so blessed to be serving here at this time. The work is seriously going to just explode. We have already seen miracles in Sisaket from this. It is just going to increase. I feel so incredibly blessed! AND a temple in HAITI too!! Who would've ever imagined this? Both Dad and I will have temples in our missions. It's going to be such a blessing to these people. I love Elder Anderson's talk from conference about all three areas that are going to receive temples. It just reminded me of how significant and sacred the blessings of the temple are. I just feel so happy! 

I love you all! Have a great week! 

-Sister Burbank

Blooming Thai tree

Ubon chapel

Last Sunday dinner in Thailand for my companion - she goes home

Thai New year - water fight tradition

New temple to be built in Thailand!!!!!

General Conference was wonderful. A new temple will be built in Thailand! No time to write this week but here are some pictures.

Sister Burbank

Inviting on Easter

Members visiting on companions birthday

Our missionary district

Companion's birthday

This lady's brother served with Bro. Ron Grover

The resurrection of Jesus is the most glorious of all messages to mankind

สบายดี

How is everyone doing? 

So this last week has been CRAZY. Which I feel like I say every week, but honestly so much happens every week that I can hardly comprehend it all. Everything just feels like a dream. I can hardly believe it's Monday already. So we essentially just eat. All the time. I always feel like I am eating here!! Which is something I will never complain about because the food is so good. But I am definitely going to get fat at this rate. 555 Sisaket has that reputation though! Every missionary that ever serves here gains weight!! They feed you so much.

Anyways. 

As for lessons, we taught a lot of short spiritual thoughts about the Savior. We are starting the new initiative about Christ and His resurrection. Focusing on the purpose of Easter and why we celebrate it. No one really has a concept of Easter here in Thailand. The only thing they know, if they know anything, is that there are eggs and bunnies. So we've been inviting everyone to visit the website: Helives.mormon.org to learn more about the true meaning of Easter.

The website is only in 39 languages so we feel lucky to be represented. I have been thinking so much lately about what it means to me that Christ was resurrected and something I came across in the BD during a personal study really stood out to me.

It says:

"The resurrection of Jesus is the most glorious of all messages to mankind." 

That got me thinking. WHY? Why is that the most glorious of all messages to mankind. It doesn't say "one of the most" it actually says "THE most". 

Mosiah 16:7-8 - This is the answer.

"7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ."

Because Christ was resurrected we can have HOPE in knowing we all will be resurrected as well. That is no light claim. Having HOPE in that knowledge is what drives me to do all the work I do every day. And that HOPE comes from the faith that I have developed in Jesus Christ. 

The first principle of the gospel isn't just "Faith", but "Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement".

And the Atonement was only completed BECAUSE Christ was resurrected. I know He lives. And I know that because He lives, we all will live again. 

Find out for yourself:

#BecauseHeLives

helives.mormon.org

Everyone watch the video! 

Love you all! 

Have a great week.

The church is true.

-Sister Burbank :)

Our fish dinner

Getting fresh coconuts