Valdivia is pretty sweet

Hey family!

There seems to be lots of surprises happening lately. I already heard that Ewok got ANOTHER sube cambio and that he didn´t get along. The guy has problems. Valdiva is pretty sweet...it’s been cool because we go play soccer every other day, and the days when we don´t go play I lift weights that I found in the house. We are doing really well here. We have tripled the amount of lessons I was teaching with Ewok and any other companion! When I got here there weren´t any investigators and now we found like 15 new people who could become investigators. I am in the Zone Valdivia. I thought for sure that I was an eternal district leader but looks like that isn´t true. These two families in the last photos I sent were some families from Rahue. The first family where I have a dog on my shirt is a family of an Investigator who is waiting to be divorced. The last is a family of some members that I really had a good time with.

We have to stay faithful...this is what I have learned this week. I have noticed that all the stuff I study is pointed to pray and fast. I think that I need to really focus on that while I end my mission and start making life choices. I grow in faith as I ask for certain things and receive answers to my prayers. God is great, and strong and all powerful. I love him very much.

MY GARMENTS GOT HERE FINALLY! I AM SO HAPPY AND I AM WEARING NEW GARMENTS! WHOOOO YAAA!!!

Thanks for sending me information about the school stuff. I am have no Idea what to do or where to go. I think it would be cool to go into new tech stuff and invent stuff. I have no idea what field that would be...and I also like the IT security stuff. It’s a tough choice. I think I am going to have to fast and pray to know what to do in this stage of life. I really don't have any Idea what to do. I printed the email off to think about it a little later on.

As for the work, things are going well here. I am trying the best I can. Being zone leader is much more relaxing. There isn't nearly as much work that I have to do. As a district leader I had to do a lot of work and training drained me. As a zone leader everything goes well, you have a good companion who works and you don't have to prepare classes.

It’s been good.... I don´t really have much to say this week. It’s really pretty much been easy. I am thankful that you always write me...not much time left till we talk in person. Thanks for all your help.

I love you all!

Elder Burge

Sube cambio: Unexpectedly transferred to Valdivia to be Zone Leader with Elder Urrutia

Hey Family!

Yes, you did say "hola hombre muerto/hello dead man” right. To be honest...my mission is getting cut short one week, because all the dates are now being moved a week back because of the new MTC thing they are doing there. It’s so crazy! I got transferred...early! Not because Elder Hurtado and I were not getting along ...but because a missionary broke his leg! So, they moved me to Valdiva in a huge SUBE CAMBIO, and now I am zone leader here in Valdiva. Looks like this is my final resting place. I have 2 weeks to figure out my sector, because Elder Urrutia is going home on Feb 6th. It’s so crazy! I´ve been here for 4 or 5 days now.

WOOO a patriarchal blessing! Those are so sweet....I can´t believe that Kayleigh´ll be the last one to get one in our house.

As for school...I think my plan will be to go to SLCC for a bit. I don´t have any idea what schools are good in Computer and Network Security. It’s kinda hard after being away for 2 years. I think that’s what I want to do. It should be sick! I know that computer stuff is what I will be doing.

As for the pictures I am sending...I ate at huge completo today! It was way good...after running for 30 minutes (in the morning), then play soccer, then running back home for 30 minutes, I had some serious need for food. That’s my new companion. He is from Chile, and he will be ending in 2 weeks as I said before. He and I get along way well. It’s been nice to have a good companion.

Sam wrote me, and it should be cool to hear what he has to say. I am so happy...I can´t wait to hear from him about his mission! He already has had 2 baptisms! GO ELDER SAMUEL BURGE!

I love you all...take care!
Elder Burge

Elder Urrutia demonstrating the proper way to eat a completo
 

My completo awaits
 

A member family from Rahue
 

Somebody has lost a little weight
 

Chilean farmer tan
 

Comparison 

 

Faith of a Child and Coming Home March 15th!!

I’m a dead man and one that is coming home early too. To be truthful I was in the office fixing computers when the email got there. The office elders flipped out and started calling me a dead man. Looks like I will be home one week early. I GET TO GO HOME WITH ELDER HAUVER! It’s going to be so sweet. And of course they put us on the longest route home looks like. I like my lamb crucified and cooked on an open fire. Just like the good ol´ days in Puerto Natales.

Keep the SD card around and in a safe place. When I get back I can try to take a "crack" at it. HAHA! I have never done something like that but I can figure it out with a good prayer of faith and research.

Speaking about computers...I WAS AN IDIOT and let my companion buy a DS for his brother thinking that he was going to send it the same day. He told me he had the address...he didn’t. I had to talk with the Zone Leaders to make plan for the APs to come take it away from him. President got mad...and I don´t blame him. I was told his words were...What was Burge thinking? Felt pretty bad about the whole deal and prayed and started making calls to say sorry to the Zone Leaders, APs and today an email to president. I was dumb to believe him.

He just keeps going back to his same old ways. He progresses to a point then falls back down and progresses to the same point and goes back again. I am so tired of it. But, the Lord sent him to me for a reason and I will do what I can do to help him. Even if it kills me, it will be worth it. One good missionary and hundreds of baptized people. That sounds worth it to me.

I haven´t heard from Sam. I told him not to write me until he gets permission from his president. I will continue to write to him. It sounds like a good place for him there in the mission. I have a feeling he will baptize a ton of people there.

Remember to get blessings for the illnesses that have come over you all. It’s so very important that that happens, I got my butt kicked hard by God the other day. I was really mad for a few things that happened here. Then in Priesthood someone talked about the faith of a child...and I felt that light, warm punch to my soul! I knew what I have to do, and I do just so. I felt good afterwards.

Hang in there....and God will hang in with us until our trials are over and we return to that God that gave us life.

I love you all!

Elder Burge

I’m starting to smell like a dead guy

What a weird thing is it for Sam to be leaving huh? I remember that day when I left and it feels like only yesterday it happened. It sounds like he is kinda nervous and everything. He will do really good. Everything will go well for him. He is just beginning his trip and I am coming to the end of mine. Everyone brings it up here. All the missionaries are like, you’re a dead guy! Some others are telling me I smell like a dead guy. I had interviews with President Rappleye the other day. When I sat in the chair he looked at my picture and the feeling in the room became very sad. He then told me, "well you don´t have much time left." I felt sad, and I am sure he felt sad. We talked about setting goals, and he asked me what my last goal was for the mission. I told him...I want to bring the sector back up to where it was at before my companion got here. He smiled and taught me some tricks on how to goal set. He told me that I would become a powerful instrument in the hands of God if I could learn to goal set really well. He then told me to not get trunky. Hahaha. Things are really started to come to an end. GO SILAS! I am glad to hear he blessed the sacrament. I remember that time I had to do it over like 3 times before it finally came out. I felt so embrassed when that happened. What luck he didn´t have a moment like that happen. It sure does sound like things are going well for him. Haha, I am so glad that he is saving the shows for me. That week that we’ll have will be pretty sweet.  I will be really excited to hang out with him and you guys. The garments haven´t gotten here yet. I might just have you call them and try to get your money back. I can try to find some other way to buy garments. I will just have to think about how to do it. Thanks for sending me some college information. I really don´t know where to go to college...Maybe you could see who has a good computer program. I haven´t thought about where to go or what to do. I am kinda lost on that part of things. For me I have no idea where to go or what to do.  As for me...things are going well. I am trying my hardest to keep things going. I keep running into problems with my companion but oh well. Just have to keep going with faith and diligence. I am not be required to be perfect but God wants me to try. I always seem to run out of things to say. Things really are getting close. I love you all. Take care, Ben