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August 17, 2015 – Elder Kenneth William Burton
Bunch
of Burtons
Well
I got an x-ray on my wrist and found out its not broken. But about two minutes
ago the hospital called and said they found something else in the scan that
they want to investigate a little more.... so I guess we'll find out. It feels
a lot better than it did. It only causes problems now if I put a lot of weight
on it. But its not broken so that's good!
Hjarnø
is becoming a great place for missionary work. Its a little island in the
Horsens fjord where we decided a few weeks ago we could do some finding. A few
weeks ago we found a man named Jens, I believe I told his story, he's the one
we started out by serving and then I ripped my pants. Well last week we were
out there again to visit him and as we were walking to his home a van pulled
over with a bunch of teenage boys in the back. The driver rolls down the window
smiling and waves us over. I immediately recognized him but couldn't remember
where from. He mentioned he was working there on the island at a school and we
could stop by later to come and talk with him. Then he drove off, and we were
standing there still confused trying to figure out where I knew him from. Elder
Porter had never met him.
After
our lesson with Jens we stopped by this small "after school" kind of
like a boarding house type thing. Where the kids can come and live there for
the semester and study, but also to learn life skills. We found this guy and he
sat us down and we started talking. All of a sudden it clicked and I remembered
Elder Reber and I had talked with him and a few of his friends in the centrum a
few months ago. They were all from Turkey and had a tent set up on the street
for a culture festival. At the time he had really wanted to come visit the
church and now we found out its because as a teacher he teaches about different
religions and he wants to bring his students to the church to see what its
like. So we're working with him to find a time that we could give his class a
tour and teach them what it is we believe. So that should be fun. What are the
chances though of running into him clear in the middle of no where. We were
even walking on a dirt road when he drove past.
Continuing
on the island we found two other people that day who have invited us back to do
some yard work next Thursday. We've began using offering service as a finding
tool more. Offering service to get to know people and show them our love and
then begin sharing with them that witch will help them the most, the gospel.
"No body cares how much you know until they know how much you care."
We've seen that with Jens, as well as many other people in the last month or
two. It may be a little slower, working into the teaching, but I've seen it to
be a sure way to do so. It doesn't work for every situation, but it does a lot
of good. We average about five hours of service each week.
So
good news their switching around our church scheduled so that sacrament meeting
will be first. Its been the last meeting ever sense I've been here, and it
makes it hard to get investigators to sacrament. For example with Jan, because
of his sickness he has a hard time staying for more than an hour, but if that
is the first hour then he misses out on the sacrament. And its hard for him
right now to get out the door on his own and we cant pick him up to come only
to the third meeting. But because sacrament meeting will be first we'll be able
to get a ride with him, and help him come, and also if he does have to leave
after its not as big of a deal. Jan has told us that he's not going to stop
trying. He wants to come, his schizophrenia gets in the way a lot of time
though.
I've
been studying the topic "submitting to the will of the father" in
preparation for our mission conference this next week. I've noticed and have
been impressed with Nephi, first in his willingness to obey the Lord in all
things, but also in his ability to recognize and act on the promptings of the
spirit. There was the prompting to slay Laban, when Nephi "was constrained
by the Spirit" where Nephi really was tested to act on his promise
"to go and do the things which the Lord commandeth." And later when
the Lord said to him "stretch fourth thine hand...unto thy bretheren, and
...I will shock them." Nephi lived in a way that he would be close to the
Holy Ghost, that he could fulfill his promise to always obey the Lord. He knew
he needed the Lords help "to accomplish the thing [the Lord]
commandeth", and so he lived in a way that he could receive that help.
Then he continued forward in obedience.
It
is my desire to be worthy of the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost, that I
can submit to the will of the father. And I know God does indeed provide a way.
Meget
Kærlighed,
Elder
Kenneth Burton
p.s.
fun fact... Kenneth is a popular Danish name. Its just pronounced with a silent
h so Kennet.
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