Weekly Update

rom:		Neon Burgess <neon.burgess@myldsmail.net>
to:		UNDISCLOSED
date:		Mon, Aug 24, 2015 at 10:17 AM
subject:		WEEKLY UPDATE

IAKWE AOLEP :)
Hoping you are all well and warm today.
Grateful yet again for this beautiful day to our loving Father in Heaven for his constant love and blessings to each of us, his children.

This week has been a good week. The weather has been crazzzzy though, Saturday night was like so bad -
the rain and lightening was so heavy & on Sunday morning and there were palm trees and coconuts/sand all over the roads.

There was even a car that hit a tree. So sad, but the people were ok & this morning they towed it away.
(pretty quick, considering it took them 2 weeks for them to move the church van that rolled - i aint judging) lol

Anyways on Wednesday after district meeting I caught the bug that's been going around here and so my soa was looking after me and I SLEPT like a dead person nekminit we find out our fridge is not working and our water pump was off.

But everwhere else in the house the power was working so we thought it was so strange.

Anyways later on me and my companion found out that our land lord had turned our water pump off which is connected to the same switch as our fridge :(

We don't know why they did it but we had no water for ages. Me and my companion were pretty angry but our zone leaders and sister training leaders helped us as they are both the closest companionship's to us on both sides.

Our leaders helped us to not be quick to anger and to have FAITH! Sometimes this is something I lack. I know most of you all know I am the biggest ulu ka'e and can just be so quick to anger. (haha)

But even though we have no idea why our land lord did what they did. We always need to remember, whatever happens to always KEEP THE FAITH!

So even though I was sick as a dog and my nose was running we continued to work hard throughout the week.
We found a couple of awesome investigators & had 2 baptisms this Saturday.

Saturday DAY we had an awesome Relief Society activity about recognisning and preventing diabetes.  Our relief society is growing so much which is AMAZING :) and so is the ward. We have ward games every Friday night and its so much fun!

This week we also had choir practice for our musical fireside and our zone leaders told us they just got told off by an old man.

They said they went to ask the land lord that the chapel is on if they could take some of the Taro's and the old man told them off and called them satan and cursed them and kicked them off the land etc.

They were sooo shocked and said it was the FIRST time anyone has ever yelled at them and called them satan 

(They only have 3-4 months left on their mission)

The Marshallese people are usually very polite and even if they don't want to study usually never say no which is why it was soooo weird when this happened. One of the Elders said he just wanted to yell back at him and say
somethings but he felt strongly, prompted by the spirit not to say anything and to just leave quietly.

He said he felt as though the old man wanted him to retaliate to prove something to him.
Then we all started talking about how some people just want to see us do bad. Prove them right about us. In this mission I can testify how hard it is to try and change people's perspectives, some don't want to study with us because of actions of previous missionaries.

It's definitely sad, but I believe that as we continue to be examples, true disciples of Christ and attain all Christ like attributes, we can change this mission.

As I prepare myself to teach my daughter next month (ahh im so nervous) I am determined to help her live these truths :D

Today on our agenda we will be doing laundry and playing games in Long Island as usual! Hopefully it doesn't rain and its not too hot lol

Hoping the weather back home is not too bad.

Thinking and praying for you all constantly!
with all my alofaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaz!
ij iakwe kom
Sister Burgess xoxoxoxox

Weekly Update

from:		Neon Burgess <neon.burgess@myldsmail.net>
to:		She never fails to include Darsha in her Weekly Updates
date:		Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 10:05 AM
subject:		WEEKLY UPDATE

IAKWE AOLEP! 

Hoping you are all well this wonderful Monday morning. 

The weather here is cloudy. Well maybe reaallly reaallly cloudy, like literally cannot see the sky. Usually you can see the lil islands when you drive but today you could not see anything! 

Hopefully the sun comes through later on when we play. Cause if not it's movie day LOL! (church movies of course hehe) 

Today we plan to do our laundry and then play here in town. Hopefully the elders don't change our plans, because they are more picky then the sisters. LOL 

This week was amazing! 

We had our 3 baptisms on Saturday & yesterday they were confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

They were so cute when they bore their testimonies.

It was a great atmosphere & our ward really came through and all came to support these beautiful kids enter the waters of baptism. 

Our mission president and his wife President Weir came too. 

The Stake President (there is only 1 stake in Marshall Islands) is in our ward so he was there and was so happy President came. 

The baptismal font is soooooooooo beautiful. I've never seen one like this one so I will definitely send you all a pic of it! 

Jortak (one of the boys who got baptized) he said to us on the way home. When he came out of the water he felt like he was in paradise! :'( We all got soo teary. He is only 11 years old! We told him to always remember that feeling! ahh 

One of my most memorable moments here (defs beats the dogs lol) 

We looooooooove those kids. 

We ended up having 4 baptisms on Saturday. I just love our ward. 

They are so supportive in everything we do. 

We the missionaries also organised ward games on Friday night and it was great. Majuro don't really do alot of things for their wards like activities to invite investigators, less actives etc. 

So we are really trying hard to move the work forward and help bring our brothers and sisters back to the fold. 

This week is our Missionary Musical Fireside. I cannot wait. We've been practicing alot. I'm so proud of the all the auxiliary leaders and their support. I will definitely send you guys pics of our choirs hehe. 

Yesturday my companion left us. Sister Arakandria. She finishes her mission in 4 weeks but President told her she was needed in Kiribati to help train as she is Kiribati. We miss her. So now its just me and my sister that I came from MTC with Sister crazy Mak haha 

She got a boil on her leg and yesterday at church she almost fainted so I received my Toretto strength and fast and furious'd our way to the church Nurse. 

When we got there she said all she needs to do is put is put a hot towel on it until it dies. (IT WAS MASSIVE UGHHH) 

But Sister Mak's face was like ugh is that all you hafto say?) so Sis Mak said to her 'can you do something for it now?' 

Sis Smith (the nurse) says ok, puts gloves on and grabs the BIGGEST NEEDLE I'VE SEEN and stabs her boil all the way down meanwhile I'M dying sitting on the other side of Mak. Sister Mak literally screaming her life away :O My life will never be the same after what i witnessed HAHAHA! 

My poor sister never wants to go back to Sis Smith. Sis Smith is 64 years old and she worked as a Nurse in the Army. So the whole time she was stabbing my companion she was telling her to not open her mouth buahahaha. 

Sis Mak is just screaming and yelling interesting words in her own language. hahaha 

After this all happened Mak couldn't even move so I was her rijerbal - slave lol. All the sisters in the mission came over and slept at our house to support Mak. There is only 6 sisters missionaries in Majuro now & instead of supporting my companion they ate all our food and drank my koko samoa. THE NERVE! LOL (playing i love them) 

President has officially told me that I will be training one of the new sisters coming in the next intake. So that is going to be interesting LOL I'll still be in the same area so I'm sooooooooooooooooo excited haha it'll be my 4th month in Ajeltake. 

Sister Mak will be returning to an outer ISLAND. :'( 

Alot of changes happening over here but, change is good! 

Missing home alot this week. Seeing families @ home, reminds me of you all. 

I love each and every one of you. Grateful for your constant love & support. 

This mission is definitely not easy, but it sure is worth it. 

Oh and before I leave you all, just want to share with you all that this Wednesday I will be going to court hahahahahahaha. 

On Friday I was stopped by cops for driving 30 in front of a funeral I should have been doing 15 zzzzzzzz

So yeah I received a citation to appear in court after my district meeting. My president laughed at me and I almost burnt the police station because they didn't pull us over @ the funeral they pulled us over literally 20 mins later. 

One of the senior couples told us that the police are watching us after the crash that happened a few weeks ago. One of the elders crashed the church van and rolled. Thankfully him and his comp were safe. 

Anyways all the sisters including my companion will continue to mock me until I receive my verdict :( weeeeeeeeeh hahaha 

So depressing, but that's what I get for being too fast and furious haha. This is the 4th time I've been stopped so it was bound to happen 

YOLO - jks 

I LOVE YOU ALL 

Sorry if I bored you all! 

BE HAPPY, SMILE

Don't let the adversary get you down my brothers. 

Keep the FAITH & I promise you will see the blessings. 

IJ IAKWE KOMI! 

until next time 

Sister Burgess 

xoxoxoxoxo

Weekly Update - Dogs Attack

from:		Neon Burgess <neon.burgess@myldsmail.net>
to:		UNDISCLOSED
date:		Mon, Aug 3, 2015 at 10:03 AM
subject:		WEEKLY UPDATE :)

Moktata Iakwe Ro Jeiu im Jatu! 

MORNING ALL! 

hoping to find  you all healthy, happy and safe this beautiful Monday morning :) 

Thank you for all the well wishes and the birthday LOVE! 

Cannot believe I am that age ughh I remember when I mocked Soteria when she turned 25 'hahah half way to fifty now eh?' hahaha 

*sings* look @ me now :'( hahahaha 

I am too grateful for the love that our Father has for each of us that he has blessed us all with these years. 

Too all those who mocked me about my age.....(no comment, you got me good) LOL 

My birthday was good, lol just another day - although me and my soa Mak broke the rules and stayed up til 12am 

& then I showed her the time and she said yeah and? LOL thinking she was going to wish me happy birthday hahaha. 

So i just blew my balloons and and then we started playing nekminit she was like whats the time? I replied its 12.30am! and then she goes aw ok you still have 30mins before your birthday. 

BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA deaaaad

In my poor sisters defense she didnt know the day started at 12am buaha 

Anyways my birthday started off AWESOME, the weather was the bombs and we had so much fun, the Missionary Musical Fireside has been going good in preparations. the Youth have been practicing 'Come unto Christ' every night my district missionaries have been practicing 'ILL GO AND FIND YOU MY FRIEND' its been awesome 

Just hope that everything goes smoothly.

I love my ward . 

This week we had a baptism it was so beautiful - teenager, he has changed so much so that he can enter the waters of baptism. We are so proud of him and how far he has come. 

I shared Baptism talk @ his baptism, first time since I've been out lol so it was so exciting. I thought I'd be stuttering and especially cause I ain't fluent but I know the language. 

As soon as I started talking everything just flowed. I started crying just looking at Rubus. I love this gospel & the strength that I receive from it gives me the energy to continue to move the work forward. 

This week also was hilarious as we received a referral from our Ward Mission Leader. So here we are walking up to this house which has no drive way so we park our car on the road and walk down to the house nekminit we see the house is locked & out of nowhere we hear dogs barking & not just 1 but 4 haha so my soa's are like don't run don't run or they will chase you but all I hear is the barking getting louder so I sprint my life away to the car which is like 10 million miles away from my blind eyes. 

I trip on the rock while my comps are behind me and the dogs are about to kill me haha my comps run back (yeah after they tried to save their own lives) lol and pick up rocks and then the dogs ran away hahaha omg never in my life.... it was the most scariest and funniest thing i've ever experienced (other then sitting on poo) on my mission. 

My comps were mocking me because it was my fault they wanted to attack for running 

oh AND while i was running i pushed one of my soas behind me so i can run in front of her hahahaha

So im pretty sure everything that happened was all my fault. hahaha 

So now everytime we go to that house we always beep the horn to see if anyone's home and if not we just roll out LOL ain't nobody got time to be killed 

The dogs out here are soo crazzzy! my soas are so scared of them. I'm only scared of the ones that run in packs LOL!!! 

But as soon as you pick up a rock the dogs stand down LOL 

This week the work has been awesome. 

We will have 3 baptisms this week from our kids we met a couple of weeks ago 

Edmond, Selena & Jortak 

They are so cute - they learn so fast, so smart and ever since we've taught them they come to church every Sunday they are so excited to get baptized & I cannot wait to witness it. 

I love this work & love to see the change that they go through to experience, receive the blessings in this gospel, we do have a lot of investigators that have lessons for the sake of having lessons & don't progress. But we believe that even if its a 30 min lesson or even a 5 mins lesson as long as we've done our part to help them recognize us as messengers of our Father and share the message of the Restored Gospel. 

They need to exercise their faith & agency. 

I know being a member is tough in these days 'be in the world but not of the world'

But I see the blessings in standing out, not being afraid to stand alone. Don't be afraid to stand as a representative of Jesus Christ. 

This week we have zone meeting with all the missionaries in Majuro with Mission President and all the Senior Couples. My companion is going to be one of the sisters leaving at the end of the month so they'll be sharing their testimonies. Shes so nervous, reminds me of my previous comps when they had to share. 

Cant wait, I love hearing from our Mission Pres, he's the man! 

Anyway this week should be good 

Tonight we have Sisters Family Home EVENING and me and my comps are sharing the lesson - tonight we are sharing about 'love and concern for all our Fathers Children' 

I know that through this life we may come across people who are very different from us. Sometimes may even push our buttons. 

President Joseph Fielding Smith reminds us that as we continue remind ourselves of who we are, and our divine source from whence we came from, we will harbor feelings of kindness & kinship for each other that will change our views of the way we live our lives (and act towards each other) and kwalok aennemon (bring peace to the world) 

I know this too be true, especially because I used to be the biggest hater to people (don't judge me lol) 

Not a very good trait to have. But I can honestly say this gospel has changed me. 

All my life I grew up hearing it. But living it was always something hard for me to do. 

Being thrown into the work and working (living it) at it 24/7 is hard work. But everything we do as missionaries, all the blood, sweat, tears, & seeing lives change through THIS WORK has changed my life forever. 

THANK YOU all for your emails and for your constant LOVE towards me 

I am doing great over here. The work in Marshall Islands is moving along :) 

Oh I saw Elder Salanoa yesturday before he left. He is hilarious - said he will only be in Kiribati for 5 months so I guess I'll be seeing his crackup self again. 

Asked him how the heck he was able to convince our president to send him to Kiribati (because it never happens unless you become AP lol) his reply "OBEDIENCE" HAHA

Anyways I won't continue to bore until next week my brothers 

Hoping this week finds you all safe, healthy and especially warm :) 

It's filthy hot over here just thought i'd share with you all LOL 

IJ IAKWE KOM 

thinking of you all daily! 

Sister Burgess xoxoxox  

Weekly Update

from:		Neon Burgess <neon.burgess@myldsmail.net>
to:		EVERYONE
date:		Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 9:16 AM
subject:		WEEKLY UPDATE

IAKWE AOLEP!

This weeks might be abit short, but I will try and remember as you prolly all know my brain is jidik slow lol! 

PS I'm not at the usual computer place, we at NTA where we hafto pay so ima make this quick 

& so if i dont reply to everyone please know it's cause aint nobody got time to pay for internet LOL 

This week my companions have been sick :( 

Sister Mak sprained her ankle and then after that her body failed & then shortly after her voice and so we've been at home tryna look after her when my other comp got sick :/ my gosh so thank goodness for my 10 million panadols and my years work as a nurse (not) 

They are both well and alive.  Sister Mark was bad though, I called the Zone Leaders to come and bless her int he house as she couldn't get out of her bed. 

This week seeing the miracle & power of Priesthood BLESSING made me miss home so much! 

I remember when mum told us the story of the night she thought she had passed on & Shirley or Alice was saying she couldn't stop shaking & then dad came in and gave her a Priesthood Blessing and she calmed down and had a good nights sleep. 

I'm grateful for the Priesthood in our lives and even more for the worthy holders. 

This week I shared a training with my district on Wednesday and I thought to share with you all today. 

People usually have titles for their training but (yeah couldn't think of one) lol 

so I shared a story about George Albert Smith from the TEACHINGS OF G.A.S 

When he was about 45 - 47 years old he was struck with a sickness that held him bedridden. 

He felt as though he was on the brink of death. He said he fell into a slumber so deep that while he was dreaming he had thought he had passed on. He found himself in a lake and nobody was around. He said he continued to wonder around until he found a track in the woods. As he followed the tracks he saw someone a far way off. As he continued to draw nearer to him he recognised him as his GRANDFATHER George Albert Senior (his namesake) 

As he went to approach him his grand father said to him 'I would like to know what you have done with my name?" as he said this G.A.S jnr saw his life flash before his eyes - his accomplishments, achievements etc. 

Without hesitation he replied 

"I have done nothing with your name which you need be ashamed' 

As soon as he said these words his grandfather embraced him & he arose from his dream. 

GAS jnr goes on to say that we need to honor the names we wear...

As a missionary I wear 2 names My families name as Our Saviour's name! 

I wanted to share this story as to remind us who we represent. 

Just because you may not wear a badge doesn't mean you cannot do what I'm doing every day! 

Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ & go to work! 

I'm truly grateful for this gospel & I'm especially blessed to be where I am today. 

I know the trials I faced in life have all led me to where I stand here and now. 

I believe that whatever we go through in life our Father is mindful of us and will help us if we lean on him & follow him :) 

So as my comps were sick I started our missionary fireside! 

Alot of people wanna be in it and we start ward games this week leading up to our fireside on the 16th of August 

I'm so excited and will hopefully send you all pics of the night! 

This week as I contemplate of my birthday zzz turning old ugh ain't nobody got time for that! 

I think of my years on earth & with love and gratitude I and thankful. 

For every day that I've been blessed with beautiful people in my life to my friends, my family I LOVE YOU ALL! 

Thank you for each important role you've played a in my life. 

Hoping you are all well and that this next week brings happiness, bliss, love and more love! 

THINKING OF YOU ALL 

PS. I HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK YAY 

He passed his interview and we are so excited :) 

WILL defs send pics and NO im not getting transferred in this next transfer (this week) 

but ALL the elders are getting moved around zzz

anyways IJ IAKWE KOM 

YAKWE JEN SISTER BURGESS 

XOXOXOXOX

Weekly Update

from:		Neon Burgess <neon.burgess@myldsmail.net>
to:		TOO MANY AGAIN...
date:		Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 9:42 AM
subject:		WEEKLY UPDATE :)

MORNING AOLEP! 

How are you all doing this fine hot Monday morning? :) 

hehe playing i know its freezing over there .lol 

These Monday's come faster every time!  

Man I Miss you all so much :'( 

This week has been a good week:) 

We had a lesson last week Monday with a jimma (old man) who lives near our chapel, we met him finding with my comps last week, he reminds me of dad and has like 10 million grand kids who always come and listen in on listens! its sooo cute. 

Paul is doing good, we have another lesson with him tonight at 7pm teaching about Life of Jesus Christ - we love him! 

Tuesday we had a meeting with our ward mission leader - our Missionary Musical Fireside will all be confirmed by tomorrow in our meeting. Alot of people want to sing so it's going to be so fun! 

My comps were all talking about doing what we did in CWP ward with our games that we had every week and invite every one in our area so we can do more finding and invite them to our fireside - will keep yall posted on how it goes :) - i am so excited for it 

This week all our zone had a meeting with our Mission President, our zone has been lacking alot with baptisms, but we have a set a goal that we all think is attainable 2-3 baptisms per month per companionship 

So as we did weekly planning this week we had to unfortunately drop some of our investigators and we gained 5 new investigators this week! 

We have a baptism interview tomorrow - his names Rubes, he was suppose to get interview'd yesterday but he was sick... soooo yay we are so excited for him! 

We also have another investigator who's testimony is so strong her names Meta, only problem is that she has not yet divorced her husband and is now living with someone else! 

This is one of the biggest probs for ALL marshallese peeps! but we have a plan to find her husband in town and get him to sign the papers! The people we are working with now have alot of potential so things are looking good :) although it was sad to drop our 2-4 of our other investigators we know that they are eternal investigators hahaha jks 

We know that they may just need time :) 

So there's this new program for missionaries that have English as 2nd language and both of my comps are ESL 

After our language training every morning i'm also a English teacher buahahah! 

It's soooo funny cause they argue all the time, meanwhile im dyinggggggggggg of laughter with their broken English (not really arguing lol)

Alot of changes may be happening next month as a new intake of sisters will be coming in & i may be transferred out of Ajeltake, & i may be training new sisters :/ 

I think I would have to pray more for the new sister if I do. haha playing 

hmm what else happened this week. 

Ok so yesterday one of the ladies invited us to her house for afternoon lunch (koogai) and the elders (our zone leaders) said yeah just go, we're all going so we take her and we end up at a beach :/ I ASK her where shes going - she tells us that her lunch is at the beach. omg i was so embarrassed 

We tried to get out, as we felt so uncomfortable and not to mention the elders weren't there yet. So we asked her if we could leave cause we had apts and she made us quickly eat and i sped back to area. 

I saw the elders on our way and called them to repentance lol jks 

They felt sorry cause they thought it was at her house too. 

I kinda felt guilty because I had been prompted not to go but I ignored as to not be rude. 

I guess, when we feel something is not right - we need to follow our instincts. Follow the spirit and ALWAYS stand in Holy places! especially on the Sabbath. :) 

This Sunday I was taught about the importance of FAMILIES! 

Made me miss home, our Relief Society teacher read the Family Proclamation to us and we all broke it down! 

It's soooo powerful & i challenge you to all re-read it again this week & apply it in your lives as daughters, mothers, siblings etc. 

Sorry i can't think of anything else that happened to me this week LOL 

But just want to share one of fav scriptures this week :) 

Ether 12:4

Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God 

Ether cried morning to night exhorting the people to believe! 

I love this WHOLE CHAPTER! 

I hope that this week brings love to each of you! 

AND especially those around you! 

I know this gospel strengthens & whatever we face if we turn to our Father he will guide us! 

IJ IAKWE KOMI

Thinking and praying for you all 

SISTER BURGESS XOXOX