Couple of pictures for this week.

Not alot to report, but just know that I am happy! I got to switch off with my child! Sister Sihabut (On friday) and Sister Kwak (On Wed), who is Sister Hayes child!! 

Oh and Friday was Sister Rungthips birthday! So shout out to her! She is such a great companion! I love being companions with a khon Thai. Everything is just so happy! This week we go back to Bangkok for MLC. Taking a plane again! Sister Larson dies in 2 weeks and she is freaking out! 555+ I love her. Hope everything is great back home! 

Love Sister Burbank

Quote of the day: 

C.S. Lewis - "We can say we believe in Christ as we believe in the sun at noon day, not that we can see it, but that by it, we can see everything else."

 Switch off with these cute people! 

Sister Coates, Me, Sister Kwak (FROM CANADA), and Sister Larson.

Birthday dinner at this amazing members restaurant!! 

CELEBRATING 50 Years of the Church in Thailand

So this week consisted of ZONE TRAINING, SWITCH OFF's, and BROADCASTS from Apostle Elder Gary E Stevenson. I can honestly say that it was one of my favorite weeks of my mission. But I feel like I honestly say that every week. 555+ 

Everything is just so good!! 

ETERNITY MOMENTS are real. Sister Larson and I are convinced that you can't explain them in words, so I won't even try. But just know that these glimpses of ETERNITY are real. And I love them. One of them was experienced when I watched Sister Phosawad's (A khon Thai Sister serving here in Roi Et) grandmother give the closing prayer to the Celebrating 50 years of the church in Thailand Broadcast that replaced our Sacrament meeting yesterday. She is a miracle. When President Johnson was a young missionary he taught her, and now look what has come of it....that women's granddaughter is serving a mission. Incredible. We also got to listen to not only a member of the Twelve, but the Asia Area President, Elder Gong, and the member of the Seventy, Elder Khanakham (who lives in Thailand). And many more. Everything was so incredible.

Also had Zone Training this last Thursday. 

Elder Bunker, Elder Chamberlain, Sister Larson and I were all in charge of doing it. Ended up going pretty well actually! The theme of MLC was the "WHY" of being a missionary. 

What are our motives for doing what we do?

Matt 22:36-40 - Because we love God....

It's as simple as having love for God and our fellow men. That is why we do what we do.

That is why we are members, that is why we are missionaries. 

All for the love of God! 

I hope all of you find a way you can express that love for God more fully this week.

As Elder Holland reminds us, "that the crowning characteristic of love is always LOYALTY."

How can we be more loyal to God?

I know that when we express our love for God and our fellow men, our hearts will increase in capacity to feel God's love for us. Which is the greatest of all the gifts of God. 

I love you all. I love my Father in Heaven. I love my Savior. 

Have a great week! 

Sister Burbank

1&2. So this last WED and FRI we had switch-offs...since Sister Larson and I are now the STL's over two zones, we have 10 Sisters (5 companionships) we have to do 24 hour switch offs with this transfer. Which means that we had to do 2 this week...On WED we switched with the Korat Sisters, Sister Macknight and Sister Larson went together (both finish their missions March 15th), and I went with Sister Budsayamad (a khon Thai greenie from Sakon Nakhon)....leaving Sister Rungthip and Sister Phosawad (both greenies) to be companions. Because all three sisters are still in training we all had to stay and study until 12pm. They all called me their แม่ (mom) in the mission. 555+ Even though I think all of them are actually older than me in real life. I love them so much though. We have so much fun together. I love how many khon Sister missionaries are coming in now!!! Represent! 

3. Just this beautiful country I live in, <3

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My Best Valentine's Day!

So this last week I celebrated Valentines Day by getting shocked with a whole lot of trunky news.

After flying down to Bangkok on Tuesday night we had a wonderful MLC on Wednesday with President and Sister Johnson. Then they invited a few Sisters over to their house for dinner which was incredible. I did not want to leave...it felt so good to be with them. 

Then Thursday I had what President called a "Not being Trunky but being WISE" meeting. Essentially, every missionary that is dying on April 22, 2016 was there to discuss and talk about life after the mission. The meeting went from 9am-1pm....talk about exhausting!! 555+ But honestly it wasn't at all and it really didn't even make me trunky. I just felt at peace the whole time, because right now on my mission I have this constant peacefully feeling all the time. I can't explain it but if I was going to try I would say something like...floating. It feels like I am floating. Anyways, the real reason it probably just because it still feels so far away and I am never actually going to believe there is a life after the mission. But like all of my mission friends in the last 3 months has faced....it's REAL...and it comes so much faster than you'd ever hope or expect. So I guess you could say I am grateful for President and his desire to prepare us for whatever we apparently need to prepare for. With that being said....I was so happy to finally get back to Roi Et, Friday morning. Being out of your area is one of the worst things about being a missionary. So it felt good to be back.

Saturday was SO much fun. For the Bishop's birthday we went and and helped do yardwork for all of his neighbors. That's how he wanted to celebrate. He is one of the most humble people I know. Honestly, he never ceases to amaze me. He just radiates with the spirit. My goal in life is to somehow become like that. We even met the cutest little old lady doing it and now we have a plan to go do FHE at her house tonight. So cute.

Sunday was incredible. VALENTINES DAY. Sister A got the Gift of the Holy Ghost in sacrament meeting which was just incredible. She is the cutest thing ever. Also went and visited a bunch of old members who cannot come to church because of health etc. It felt so good and I was so impressed with each member as they have kept their faith strong even though they can't physically go to church anymore. One man was 94 years old, and reminded me of Grandpa Dean. He literally is the Thai version of Grandpa Dean. He has an old bicycle and everything. If he had it his way he would still be biking to church like he always did, not missing a single Sunday, but ever since he fell his kids wont let him bike anymore. They aren't members. He still is so healthy though! I was just shocked when I found out how old he was. I asked probably 10 times to repeat it because I just wouldn't believe it. He can read, walk, dance, sing, all of it! And trust me he proved it too. 555+ I just love him. And this work....most people find fulfillment or fun in partying and drinking with  friends but who needs to party when you can go visit and listen to a 94 year old man sing "Nearer My God to Thee" in Thai from memory? Honestly..555+ I would never wish my life any other way.

Charity is the only form of real happiness.  

I hope all of you had a wonderful week. 

Happy Valentines Day!! I can't think of a better way to spend it than by serving my God and His super น่ารัก children. 

สู้ๆ

Love

Sister Burbank

Valentines Day Activity Saturday night!! I love these people!! The little boy (Ford) in the left hand corner is my Valentine :)

Musical chairs...so simple but so fun.

Teaching khon Thai's how to line dance at the activity.......555+ Never laughed so hard in my life.

 Elder Bunker with B. Arm....Seriously the funniest people I have ever met....

New companion this transfer but I am in the same area (Roi Et)

Visiting members with Bishop and his wife! I seriously love them and Sister Rungtip! 

 Sister A got baptized!!! I love her. And my new companion Sister Rungtip! She is still a greenie. Just moved here from Don Meaung. She is only 19 years old. And a member in Korat! 

 I miss Sister Yang!!!! :'( She went to Lampang. I love her so much.)

Love you all and remember who you are!

Welllll..........I feel happy!!! 

This week was full of just incredible experiences. From witnessing the first steps of complete unity within our stake when it comes to missionary work to having our incredible investigator Sister A pass her interview. She is getting baptized next Sunday!!! B. Uan is still going strong but we had to move his baptismal date for later this month. He is working at helping his wife become converted first now too! And he wants to wait for her! She lives in Bangkok so it's a little long distance but it feels right. Families! We also have Sister Joy and Sister Bia on date for Feb. 14th and they are the family of Sister Pop who just got baptized! Then we have Sister เอย which I can't spell in English who is on date for the 28th of Feb! 

Miracle: They all came to church on Sunday! So we got to teach them all! It was such a great day. And B. Uan even brought his 10 year old son who is visiting from Bangkok, He has two kids, BM (10 yr. son) and Benz (daughter)....Needless to say he loves cars. 555+ 

We also visited Sister Wai our 93 year old investigator on Sunday. Unfortunately she didn't make it to church today but when we stopped and visited she seemed to be doing okay. We prayed with her and let her sleep. The Bishop and his wife took us. So nice of them. Sister Yang and I are seriously so tight with the Bishop and his wife here. We get along so well! 555+

Then the Bishop and his wife wanted to take us out to the Stake Presidents house for his mom's funeral because this last weekend she passed away. It was such an interesting experience because it was a Buddhist funeral because the Stake President's mom was still Buddhist, but because of the perspective we have the spirit could still be felt as we sang a few hymns and prayed with them. It was one of the coolest experiences on my mission and really strengthened my testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I have been to Buddhist funerals before but having the Stake President there and having it be his mother, made the feeling different. I was so impressed. I love and respect that family so much! 

Honestly, this was just such a spiritually packed week! We had zone conference this last Friday too! So we got to see President and Sister Johnson which is always a pleasure. 

Rina DIES (goes home) on Friday!!!!!!!!!!! What the WHAT?! 

Where has time gone?

We get transfer calls today....I hope I stay.

I don't know what is going to happen. We will see.

Thank you to everyone who writes me!! Honestly. I feel bad I can't respond to everyone. But just so you know I really do love reading your emails. It brightens my day so much! 

Love you all and remember who you are! :) 

Sister Burbank

(P.S. Isaiah 53-54 - I am obsessed with these chapters right now...check 'em out!)

Proof that I was cold.....Thank you แม่นิน for the headband! 

After she passed her interview!!!! I love her...

 Seriously...I am so tall...555+

 Roi Et Zone conference!! 

 Bishop and his wife chilling after church. Watching Sister A's daughter while she interviews for baptism. :) I love this family!! Sister A and her husband are going to be great members. 

 Sister A and Garfield... they are such a miracle. We found them while we were contacting one day out in Tawaburi. Which is a 12km bike ride from the church. God works in mysterious ways! 

 These missionaries cramming into one tiny thai kitchen. 5555+

Elephants and Monkeys and Cold Weather?

So today consisted of waking up at 6am. Driving two hours to Surin to ride elephants in the absolutely freezing weather....And feeding monkeys at a random Buddhist temple along the way. I will send more pictures in another email. But needless to say today was pretty productive. 555+

As for this week....well I can honestly say it was one of the weirdest weeks of my mission. Not that anything particularly weird or different happened, it just felt like it. Starting with Thursday we watched the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast (the first one in over a decade) which was fantastic. Then moving onto Friday morning. I slept on my neck wrong and ended up being crippled all of Friday and Saturday and a little of Sunday. I still worked, but it was like 8th grade all over again. I couldn't turn my neck to the left at all. And moving it at all would hurt. It was super weird and annoying, but got some good laughs out of it. Teaching investigators I had to turn my whole body to look at them and then turn my body all the way back to look at my companion. I actually just took the phrase "missionary robot" to a whole new level. Everything all healed pretty much now though. So that's good. Missed Dad a lot that is for sure though. 555+ I wouldn't even know where to start looking for a Chiropractor in Roi et. Within these last paralyzed few days, we did see a lot of miracles. Actually one miracle might be a product of me getting my neck hurt. The Lord works in mysterious ways. So on Friday we had a switch off with the Maha sisters. We planned that I was going to switch off with Sister Jo and Sister Yang was going to go with Sister Phosawad. But with the turn of events. I ended up studying with Sister Phosawad until 12 while Sister Yang and Sister Jo went out and worked. Because of the last minute switch Sister Yang and Jo ended up inviting at the park right by our house and met a man named B. Uan. Who has been learning with the missionaries in Khon Kaen and Asoke before he moved to Roi Et. Because Sister Yang was at the park just at the right time she was able to show him where the church was and teach him that night! He agreed to pray about baptism and whether he should get baptized on Jan. 31st. He said he would do it! Sunday he comes to church and says he got an answer...so he is getting baptized next week!!!!! Seriously. The craziest experience ever....

Miracle after miracle after miracle.....I just can't even describe to you the kind of energy that is flowing in Roi Et right now. We all love it here, and are just happy. The work is progressing so smoothly and we are working with members more closely than ever before. I just love it here!!! I don't want to leave EVER! 

A scripture I am obsessed with this week is Alma's testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ in 

Alma 5:48 - I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.

His conviction inspires me. I love that idea of steadfastly believing on His name. The word for obedience in Thai is เซื่อฝั่ง which is literally the word for "believe" เซื่อ and the word "listen" ฝั่ง put together. I love that perspective on obedience. That it is more than just a passive belief but a desire to listen as well. I believe that is what Alma meant when he said that we must steadfastly believe on His name. Meaning we must be firmly fixed in our faith in Him. I know that faith in the Savior is a principle of action and power. "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." (Moroni 7:33) Christ lives. And His power is real. 

I hope all of you have a great week. Last week was 91 degrees. This week is 45 degrees. We are freezing over here!!! 555+

Love you all! Let me know if I can do anything for you! :)

Sister Burbank

We love elephants.

Me and Yang! 

Our cute little freezing elephant driver man.... SO cute.

 All we do is ride ride ride.....into the water (Even though its like 45 degrees outside...I don't even kidding. ITS FREEZING)

Feeding monkeys

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