Friends and family of Elder Burton
Sean has also sent us audio tapes which I am listening to and transcribing and will get on the blog.
Please remember to write Sean often, it really helps him knowing that people care about him.
We have finally finished building our new house and have moved into it. We'd love to have you drop by and see us. Drop us an email if you need directions (or talk to Erica!).
Time is flying by, we'll be celebrating Sean's one year mark on December 5th.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
October 13, 2008
How's my Book of Mormon challenge going? Have you read the article and bought a box of Books of Mormon? Better get on it, only 13-1/2 months left till I get home. You'll have to really pray hard for the opportunities to give all 20 away. But it is possible, I give 20 away every month.
October 6, 2008
I'm doing pretty good except I'm sick...oh, and I broke a tooth, not just chipped, but broke a huge chunk off, so I'll have to get that fixed. Oh, and I'm STILL getting bloody noses, even with 50 gallons of snot coming out of my nose every 5 minutes and tons of rain/humidity. Anyway, enough of my medical problems.
Here's a challenge for you all. Get a box of Books of Mormon (20 books) and give them away before I come home. That's 20 Books of Mormons for each of you. In the September Ensign, Elder Cook has a great article of this on page 44. Read it and DO IT. It'll be hard, but you can all give 20 BofMs away in 14 months!
For General Conference we go to the Stake Center and all the sessions are playing there in Dutch and English. We had the Saturday morning session at 6:00 pm on Saturday night. Sunday consists of: 11:00 am Priesthood/Relief Society, then the Saturday afternoon session of Conference, then at 6:00 pm we watch the Sunday morning session. Next week at church we get the Sunday afternoon session. We had to got the Groningen for Conference.
Here's a challenge for you all. Get a box of Books of Mormon (20 books) and give them away before I come home. That's 20 Books of Mormons for each of you. In the September Ensign, Elder Cook has a great article of this on page 44. Read it and DO IT. It'll be hard, but you can all give 20 BofMs away in 14 months!
For General Conference we go to the Stake Center and all the sessions are playing there in Dutch and English. We had the Saturday morning session at 6:00 pm on Saturday night. Sunday consists of: 11:00 am Priesthood/Relief Society, then the Saturday afternoon session of Conference, then at 6:00 pm we watch the Sunday morning session. Next week at church we get the Sunday afternoon session. We had to got the Groningen for Conference.
September 29, 2008
I'm doing pretty good. It's starting to get colder here. If you happen to see some changing leaves and have a camera with you, could you take lots of pictures and send them to me. That would be awesome.
Jean Jacques was confirmed in sacrament meeting yesterday, that was cool. Other than that the week was just lots and lots of angry Dutch people on the doors.
Jean Jacques was confirmed in sacrament meeting yesterday, that was cool. Other than that the week was just lots and lots of angry Dutch people on the doors.
September 22, 2008
I got to baptize Jean Jacques on Saturday. And I got all 7 feet of him under the water! It was pretty cool.
We have member in our branch that is from Hondurus so I've been speaking Spanish with her and I'm getting pretty good at it.
We have member in our branch that is from Hondurus so I've been speaking Spanish with her and I'm getting pretty good at it.
September 15, 2008
Thank you so much for the birthday packages, I think that half the food items are already gone. I was hungry this morning, what can I say. But thanks so much fo everything. Unfortunately I don't have an oven to bake the cake in, but I was reading the side of the box, and it's actually healthier to eat the mix without baking it first, so I think that I'l do that.
September 8, 2008
In answer to your question, NO I HAVE NOT GAINED WEIGHT I've lost a ton though.
Has anyone ever seen a case of someone dying because of cabin fever? 'Cause I think that I'm getting to the point that I'm going to die because of my cabin fever....it's soooooooooooooooooo bad!
Anyway, my new companion is very quite which isn't all that bad, so that's a plus. He has been out two transfers longer than me. He's from Springville.
The past week was long...we did tons of findind (contacting/tracting). But it wasn't all that bad. I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow.
Has anyone ever seen a case of someone dying because of cabin fever? 'Cause I think that I'm getting to the point that I'm going to die because of my cabin fever....it's soooooooooooooooooo bad!
Anyway, my new companion is very quite which isn't all that bad, so that's a plus. He has been out two transfers longer than me. He's from Springville.
The past week was long...we did tons of findind (contacting/tracting). But it wasn't all that bad. I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow.
September 1, 2008
So it is transfer time, I'm staying in Assen and I'm getting a new companion, Elder Patrick. I went on an exchange with him once before, he's very quite and hardly ever talks. But, anyway, it will be fun, I'm sure it will be.
Dina's baptism went really well, she was so happy and glowing afterwards. She is such a funny little girl. It was awesome!
Elder Monson is getting transferred out of the zone.
Dina's baptism went really well, she was so happy and glowing afterwards. She is such a funny little girl. It was awesome!
Elder Monson is getting transferred out of the zone.
August 27, 2008
I'm riding my bike down the street and some lady came running to us and yelled, in English, "Hey missionaries!" Turns out she's a member and she lived in New York for six years and jsut moved back to the Nederlands and wants to come back to church. She's from South America somewhere. But that was cool.
I picked up my bike tire and it only ended up costing 63 euros ($95.00) so that was way cool.
Oh, by the way, I have a baptism on Saturday, Dina is getting baptized. Oh, and my incredible investigator, Jean Jacques is getting baptized on Sept. 17. Oh, and Bibi in Den Bosch finally read the Book of Mormon and knows it's true.
I picked up my bike tire and it only ended up costing 63 euros ($95.00) so that was way cool.
Oh, by the way, I have a baptism on Saturday, Dina is getting baptized. Oh, and my incredible investigator, Jean Jacques is getting baptized on Sept. 17. Oh, and Bibi in Den Bosch finally read the Book of Mormon and knows it's true.
August 20, 2008
So my back tire on my bike decided that it's had enough and now I've got to drop 80 euros ($120.00) to get it fixed!
August 13, 2008
I was in Amsterdam yesterday..that city is so crazy. I hate it, it's too busy for me, too many people, too much weed, drugs and sex too. Anyway the Zone Conference was amazing and the spirit was so strong...it was great.
We have a baptism on August 30 with Dina and Jean Jacques. Dina is a 9-year old girl whose mom is inactive and hopefully her daughter getting baptized can help to reactivate her. Jean Jacques is a 7-foot tall African fron the Congo.. He's awesome and he's almost quit smoking to. He loves the Book of Mormon and coming to church.
We have a baptism on August 30 with Dina and Jean Jacques. Dina is a 9-year old girl whose mom is inactive and hopefully her daughter getting baptized can help to reactivate her. Jean Jacques is a 7-foot tall African fron the Congo.. He's awesome and he's almost quit smoking to. He loves the Book of Mormon and coming to church.
August 6, 2008
Hey, so yesterday I installed wood flooring in our kitchen and bathroom. Then we went to the only concentration camp in the Nederlands, that was really cool. And we went houseboat contacting the other day.
My new companion, Elder Walker, is from Idaho Falls. My companion kind of has a different style of missionary work than me, but our lessons are still good. It's interesting. But we've seen alot of success since I've been in Assen. People are lettingus in their doors like crazy and we're setting baptismal dates like crazy too. It's awesome. The work is starting to take off here in Assen.
On Monday we went to Leeuwarden for District meeting and we went to the place where the first convert baptism in the Nederlands took place. It was pretty cool. In my new District there are 8 elders and a senior couple. And Elder Monson from my MTC group is in my district too.
A few days ago there was a crazy lightening storm that was literally constant, non-stop lightening for two hours. It was crazy! Just flash after flash and a constant rumble of thunder. Then yesterday we got soaked in a rainstorm that was like being in the shower on full blast. Everything was completely soaked through.
I had to get my bike fixed because I broke 9 spokes on my back tire. Really not sure how that happened, but it cost me 30 euros!
My new companion, Elder Walker, is from Idaho Falls. My companion kind of has a different style of missionary work than me, but our lessons are still good. It's interesting. But we've seen alot of success since I've been in Assen. People are lettingus in their doors like crazy and we're setting baptismal dates like crazy too. It's awesome. The work is starting to take off here in Assen.
On Monday we went to Leeuwarden for District meeting and we went to the place where the first convert baptism in the Nederlands took place. It was pretty cool. In my new District there are 8 elders and a senior couple. And Elder Monson from my MTC group is in my district too.
A few days ago there was a crazy lightening storm that was literally constant, non-stop lightening for two hours. It was crazy! Just flash after flash and a constant rumble of thunder. Then yesterday we got soaked in a rainstorm that was like being in the shower on full blast. Everything was completely soaked through.
I had to get my bike fixed because I broke 9 spokes on my back tire. Really not sure how that happened, but it cost me 30 euros!
July 29, 2008
Hey, how's it going? I'm doing pretty good. We have found alot of people in the last week. The new apartment is pretty good. We are on the sixth floor and it is the first of three buildings. The branch here is pretty small, only 20 people. The past week has been pretty good, but today I'm incredibly homesick. But I'll just take a nap and get back to work.
July 22, 2008
Hey, so I got transferred. I'm going to Assen and my new companion is Elder Walker. Assen is an incredible city and we will be having a baptismal interview tomorrow night and a baptism either this Saturday or next. We have four baptismal dates and will be setting a few more in the next few weeks. It's gonna be an awesome new city, I don't know whole lot about my new companion, but I'm sure it will be good. I'll surely miss Den Bosch and the ward here and Elder Laursen. My new address is:
Maria in Campislaan 239
9406-JG
Assen, Nederlands
Maria in Campislaan 239
9406-JG
Assen, Nederlands
July 16, 2008
So I probably have only one week left in Den Bosch. My P-day is on Tuesday and transfer are on Wednesday. I'm doing good. Bibi was supposed to be baptized this coming Monday, but I don't think it is going to happen. Oh, well, it'll happend next transfer. As for other investigators, we have Sabrina who didn't come to church and that's our only investigator. Yep, its not very fun. But it's alright.
Yesterday and Monday, I was in Utrecht for exchanges with Elder Carter...he's been out six months longer thatn me, but he lives in Draper and went to Alta. It was way fun, we know alot of the same people, places and everything.
Yesterday and Monday, I was in Utrecht for exchanges with Elder Carter...he's been out six months longer thatn me, but he lives in Draper and went to Alta. It was way fun, we know alot of the same people, places and everything.
July 8, 2008
Email to Elder Burton from his mother:
Elder SEAN ROSS Burton,
We HAVE NOT received a letter from you (other than the package and the letter to Dad, which was wonderful) in FIVE weeks.
If there is not a letter arriving this Friday or Saturday--and it better be really long--I am going to email or call your Misson President.
Love you forever, Your REALLY UPSET Mom
Email reply from Elder Burton:
DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL MY MISSION PRESIDENT! I am writing you letters today and you will get them next Wed. or Thurday.
So today we went to Utrecht with the whole Zone and pretty much did the whole soapbox thing. Sabrine prayed and read and knows it's true. We have an appointment with her tomorrow. Susan won't make any appointments with us, but is in really good contact with alot of the ward members and goes to all the singles adult activities and everything, but she feels we are only here to baptize her and she wants to be friends.
Elder SEAN ROSS Burton,
We HAVE NOT received a letter from you (other than the package and the letter to Dad, which was wonderful) in FIVE weeks.
If there is not a letter arriving this Friday or Saturday--and it better be really long--I am going to email or call your Misson President.
Love you forever, Your REALLY UPSET Mom
Email reply from Elder Burton:
DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL MY MISSION PRESIDENT! I am writing you letters today and you will get them next Wed. or Thurday.
So today we went to Utrecht with the whole Zone and pretty much did the whole soapbox thing. Sabrine prayed and read and knows it's true. We have an appointment with her tomorrow. Susan won't make any appointments with us, but is in really good contact with alot of the ward members and goes to all the singles adult activities and everything, but she feels we are only here to baptize her and she wants to be friends.
July 2, 2008
I went on exchanges in Rotterdam two day ago, and I visited a guy that I met on the airplane when I was coming here. He's an inactive member and he's way nice. He goes to Utah and visits friends two or three time a year. It ws pretty cool. Things are going alright here. We have a lesson tonight with a lady named Sabrina, she is so amazing and she's way nice.
Monday, June 23, 2008
JUNE UPDATES
I am sorry that we have not updated Sean's blog for soooooo long. We did not receive a letter for 4 weeks, then got a 1 paper letter, then no letters for 3-1/2 weeks, and his email are generally 3-5 sentences long, so I will string them all together for the most updated info. Mom Kim
June 17: We have lost contact with Susan (investigator) and Bibi (investigator from Africa) will only be baptized in America. No other investigators. Back is getting worse, but with the pain meds it's alright.
June 10: I spent the whole day today in the hospital and the doctor told me to exercise my back and take ibprofen and then wrote me a prescription for a muscle relaxant. I'll do what he says but I don't agree with him on the diagnosis. Oh ya, one of my socks slipped into my garments laundry batch so almost all my garments are blue and it won't come out. I've tried everything. Could you send me new sets, that would be great, thanks.
June 4: I had a great experience in The Hauge Temple, it was so awesome!!!
May 21: I had my first baptism on May 17th. It was awesome! The baptism was incredible. (see picture above). He had such a glow afterward. Diederik (ward member--in the Nederlands, the ward members are encouraged to do the ordinances) baptized him and my companion and I were witnesses. Then on Sunday, the Bishop gave him the Gift of the Holy Ghost and my comp and I were in the circle, and it was incredible. We are hoping to baptize Susan and Bibi on June 7th. My new companion, Elder Lawerson, just turned 20, he is from a little town by Logan called Libly. He has been out 12 weeks longer than me and he is awesome!
May 14: I'm doing great, well, except for my back. But on the bright side, I love my new companion, we get along really well and we work well together. And we eat really good, I like food. Anyway, I'm getting really tan, but I'm getting really funny tan lines from my shirts because of the collars. It's been really hot here lately.
Apr 28: My companion got transferred!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks for all the food, it's great!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
March 19, 2008
Here is information about our ward members.
Robert/Petra--Robert is from Nigeria, he has been a member for four years and we use him alot as a joint teacher when we teach Africans, which is very often. He is getting married to Petra in May. Petra is Dutch, and she has been a member for about three years. She is very nice and speaks really good English. Robert makes absolutely awesome food...I love African food!
Dieteric Linders--He is Dutch, served his mission in this mission, Belgium/Netherlands. His whole family is in our ward. We use him as a joint teacher alot also, and he eats with us every Tuesday night at the Fabers.
The Fabers--an older couple, Dutch. They fed us every Tuesday...they are very nice. Missionaries used to live with them.
Meinderstama family--family of four, two boys ages 3 and 5. They are very nice and they speak very good American-style English which they pick up from watching TV. They fed us every Friday.
Noot family--Dutch, lived in Utah for a long time, then moved back to the Netherlands.
Stomps family--Dutch, nice family, Feds us every once in a while..their son Dave served his mission in our Sandy Stake
There are alot more and they are all really nice. We usually always have joint teachers when we need one and we eat five times a week with members or investigators.
Bibi, our invesigator from Algeria has set his baptismal date for April 12. Kenneth is setting his baptismal date on Sunday. Yousif is from Iraq... he wants America to stay in Iraq forever...he was there during the worst parts of the war. He is very humble and will be getting baptized soon.
We taught a lesson to two Dutch guys and a New York girl who is a Jew. The spirit was so incredible! It will be a slow process, but I think all three will eventually get baptized.
Robert/Petra--Robert is from Nigeria, he has been a member for four years and we use him alot as a joint teacher when we teach Africans, which is very often. He is getting married to Petra in May. Petra is Dutch, and she has been a member for about three years. She is very nice and speaks really good English. Robert makes absolutely awesome food...I love African food!
Dieteric Linders--He is Dutch, served his mission in this mission, Belgium/Netherlands. His whole family is in our ward. We use him as a joint teacher alot also, and he eats with us every Tuesday night at the Fabers.
The Fabers--an older couple, Dutch. They fed us every Tuesday...they are very nice. Missionaries used to live with them.
Meinderstama family--family of four, two boys ages 3 and 5. They are very nice and they speak very good American-style English which they pick up from watching TV. They fed us every Friday.
Noot family--Dutch, lived in Utah for a long time, then moved back to the Netherlands.
Stomps family--Dutch, nice family, Feds us every once in a while..their son Dave served his mission in our Sandy Stake
There are alot more and they are all really nice. We usually always have joint teachers when we need one and we eat five times a week with members or investigators.
Bibi, our invesigator from Algeria has set his baptismal date for April 12. Kenneth is setting his baptismal date on Sunday. Yousif is from Iraq... he wants America to stay in Iraq forever...he was there during the worst parts of the war. He is very humble and will be getting baptized soon.
We taught a lesson to two Dutch guys and a New York girl who is a Jew. The spirit was so incredible! It will be a slow process, but I think all three will eventually get baptized.
Friday, March 28, 2008
March 12, 2008 Letter
Hi,
Well, it looks like I'm gonna be in Den Bosch for a long while. No transfers for either of us.
But anyway, on a better note, I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time on my mission! I think that's my seventh time overall. I' m going to try to read it once a transfer and so by the end of my mission I will have read it sixteen times.
Pictures (photos) mean the world to me. Send more!
Well, it looks like I'm gonna be in Den Bosch for a long while. No transfers for either of us.
But anyway, on a better note, I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time on my mission! I think that's my seventh time overall. I' m going to try to read it once a transfer and so by the end of my mission I will have read it sixteen times.
Pictures (photos) mean the world to me. Send more!
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