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 

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