I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have been called to serve in the Sacramento California Mission! This is my blog where you can follow my adventures for the next 18 months (January, 2013-June, 2014)
Did you know that Sacramento was the original place of the California Gold Rush? I'm so excited! See ya'll in 18 months, I'm going for spiritual Gold!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Sacramento - Week 22

Due to the new security measures requested by the Mission leaders, the names of all investigators and people that Sarah comes into contact with will be replaced with the name of a well-known character from a children’s movie. This will keep the identities of people safe as well as make it easier to keep everyone straight. The name given is in NO WAY intended to reflect the personality, looks, or circumstances of the individual(s).



“Angels that keep a deer from becoming an Angel”
Monday June 24, 2013

Howdy y'all! 
First an explanation of the title of this email. This week, we almost hit a deer. We were leaving our subdivision in the morning and got onto the main road. All of a sudden a deer leaps out of the bushes out of nowhere. I just remember having this moment of "This can only end in tears!" (as said by the white bat in the animated movie ‘Anastasia’) and praying that somehow we wouldn't hit it. I eased onto the breaks and slowly turned the car away to keep the car behind us from hitting us and hoped that the deer would move faster than the car. All I can say is that angels are surrounding us because I have no idea how we didn't hit the deer. It was literally an inch away from the car but we didn't hit it! Miracle! Thank you angels. 
How about that broadcast?! Wasn't it amazing! We should all review the counsel given to us as members and missionaries. We must work together for this work to progress! I think my favorite part was Sister Neil Marriott telling her conversion story. It could just be because she is from the South, but the spirit was so strong. I left so pumped to be a missionary and to be doing missionary work!
All the Missionaries/Pre-missionaries
Fun Fact:  It looks like Christopher Robin is touching her,
but he isn't. His arm was like way out behind her because
he is still such a missionary and not comfortable with
hugging girls, etc. Which is good, but super funny!
Back to Last Pday and we will work our way through this past week. We went to the mountains, and I was a happy girl! We had so much fun at Wright's Lake. We played in the water on the shore (only up to ankle deep because obviously missionaries do not swim) and went biking and for a little hike. It was glorious. The best part was being there as missionaries and future missionaries enjoying God's creations. What a loving Heavenly Father we have to give us such a beautiful world to live in?! We went to In and Out for dinner and then I was off to Sacramento for an exchange with Sister Loli! 
Bear Country!
The rocks were out of our mission,
so we had to stay on the trail :(

Gosh I love that Sister! She is amazing. We went to visit a less active Tongan family and Sister Loli and I brought our ukuleles, we jammed out with them and invited them to church. It was great fun. Our dinner appointment was meeting up with the older ladies from her ward at Marie Calendar's for dinner. Maybe I'm an idiot, but I didn't realize there were Marie Calendar's restaurants too! I just thought i was frozen foods.
When Sister Loli brought me back we stopped at the Doolittle’s to say hi. Sister Doolittle was teasing me because whenever Loli and I are together, I come back all islander. She said, "Burchey, you're gonna marry and island soul." I said, "That's a good plan because we all know  I need somebody mellow!" haha. We were all cracking jokes like the good old days and Sister Doolittle told Christopher Robin, "Can't you see why it was so much fun to have them living here!" I asked Sister Loli what it feels like to leave this place after so long. She said it feels like someone reached into your chest, stabbed your heart, and then ripped it out and ate it.
I'm not looking forward to this at all.
Transfers are next week so I will be emailing on Tuesday. We'll see what happens. Maybe if I pray REALLY hard, I won't have to leave. I'm just not ready yet. 
We sent Sister Lucy Ricardo off to the MTC last week and Sister Ethel Mertz to the MTC this week. My little army of future Sister Missionaries is shrinking!!!!!!!!! But I am so happy for them to be in the field. They will be amazing! 
With Ethel Mertz at her open house/farewell!
Ethel's farewell was yesterday and so Sister Roberts and I were in a musical number with some other future missionaries. I volunteered poor Christopher Robin to sing. He was so nervous, but I have never been so happy I threw somebody under the bus. He has an amazing voice! Let this be a parable to all of us. We all have talents and we need to use them. When we hide them under a bushel because of what other people might say, we are just jipping out ourselves and others. Also, we may have talents we don't even know about, so we should always try new things! We sang Come Thou Fount and the spirit was amazing!
And now a faith building story on the power of prayer: Yesterday, Sister Roberts lost her camera. She then proceeded to freak right out. I told her we needed to stop and pray and it would show up. She was reluctant, but I made her pray with me. Sure enough, the camera showed up. God hears and answers prayers. We just have to have faith. 
I've been thinking a lot about the power of prayer lately. There's a part in my patriarchal blessing that counsels me to teach my children like the Mothers of the Stripling warriors to pray and to have faith in prayer that they might be guided and protected throughout their lives. It's never really hit me before, but think about the awesome insight about the stripling warriors! Imagine them on their knees praying to their God to deliver them, fervently pleading for their lives and the lives of their people. How many nights must they have knelt in prayer with their mothers or seen their mothers kneel in prayer? They had great faith because they knew that they had petitioned their God and they knew not to doubt Him, because their mothers knew it. Prayer is real, and prayer is power. 
Sinbad is still on track for being baptized! He is so excited and he and his wife have set a goal to be sealed a year from now. How amazing is that?! The gospel changes lives and brings together eternal families! 
Have a wonderful week! 

Love, 
Sister Burchett
Daddy told me to never get on the back of a bike with a boy,
but what about with my companion?
The things you see in Rescue...







Monday, June 24, 2013

Sacramento - Week 21

Due to the new security measures requested by the Mission leaders, the names of all investigators and people that Sarah comes into contact with will be replaced with the name of a well-known character from a children’s movie. This will keep the identities of people safe as well as make it easier to keep everyone straight. The name given is in NO WAY intended to reflect the personality, looks, or circumstances of the individual(s).



“Me and my Gal”
Monday June 17, 2013

When we were putting together my bike,
I was a basket case...haha, get it?
Well, everybody, I bought a bike. Her name is Galilee, because she is a beach cruiser hybrid with gears. Get it? Galilee...Sea of Galilee...Sea...Beach Cruiser...haha Yep, that is my sense of humor for yah. I call her Gal for short which sounds very Southern so it all works out for me. Now, I am an epic failure of a missionary because I took zero pictures this week so I don't have a picture of my new bike yet....so next week! I will tell you that I most definitely have a bike license plate that says "Jesus Loves Me". Thank you Wal-Mart. I think Sister Roberts has a picture of Christopher Robin and me putting it together (which means Christopher Robin putting it together and me watching because as discussed in last week's letter I am TERRIBLE at putting things together) so I'll see if I can steal it. It is an awesome picture which accurately describes how I felt the whole time. Good news! I remember how to ride a bike. I was kind of worried that I didn't, but I remembered and we are good. 


Family Home Evening at the Doolittles! Sis. Roberts and
Christopher Robin putting together my bike while I
provide moral support like a pro.


After buying my bike Monday, I woke up Tuesday with some sort of terrible stomach bug. Which turned the next several days into my own version of missionary hell. Why? Because the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. All I could do was lay in bed and sleep or stare at my ceiling and think about how all I wanted to do was go out and work. I just kept thinking of all the people walking around my area needing the gospel and here I was in bed. Sister Roberts told me that in my deliriousness I kept committing myself, missionary style, to be better. "Knowing what you know now about missionary work, will you commit yourself to being better by 2 o'clock? Yes, I will."
Needless to say, however, 2 o'clock came and went and I was not at all better. Wednesday I decided even if I couldn't work, Sister Roberts needed to. We had work to do! So, we called up our pre-missionary recruits in the Green Valley Ward and rotated them being my companion as I slept on their couches and them being Sister Robert's companion and going out and working. Thursday I slept all day and got up to go to a Relief Society activity that our investigator was supposed to come to. She didn't, so I figured while I was up and semi-presentable I needed to get a blessing. We called up the Elders, got me blessed, and then I went home and slept again. I'm so grateful for the priesthood on earth today, by the way. It's awesome to have that power and spirit at our fingertips. Friday I went out for about 3 hours in the afternoon, came home and took a nap, went back out for our dinner appointment and then came home and crashed. Saturday I decided not to be sick anymore and we went out and worked all day. We had goals to meet and people to see! And so we did. And it was a miraculous day, and I felt so much better being out and working. Sunday we worked all morning and I took a nap in the afternoon and then we worked the rest of the day. I am getting my bounce back now and I expect to be completely recovered soon! I told Heavenly Father that I just need to be healed already because I have way too much to do to be stuck in bed. 

Even with sickness, we had a miracle this week. Sinbad, the father of the family who owns Mira Loma Cafe, had his first missionary lesson and committed to be baptized in July! It's been a long time coming, and through much prayer and patience he is ready. He is so excited, and I can see how the gospel is blessing his family's life already. The more he reads the Book of Mormon, the more the light of Christ just radiates from him and he becomes a better person. It's just so awesome! 
Have you ever thought about how lucky we are to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives? I was thinking this week (spending all that time in bed gives you lots of time to ponder) about how if we could remember the pre-mortal life, we would never be afraid to do missionary work. Why? Because we would remember who all the people around us are: our Brothers and Sisters who we knew and loved and I have no doubt raised our hands to support and say "Even though you will be born without the gospel, I will find you and I will tell you all about it so you can come back and live with Heavenly Father too!" If we could remember those promises we made, we would shout the gospel from the rooftops! How sad we will be to return to our Heavenly Father's presence and find people missing. God doesn't just want to save a few of us. He wants every single one of us to return to him. The ONLY way that will happen is if WE, every single one of us, tells everybody we know about the gospel. They say it takes 7 good contacts with the church for someone to take the missionary lessons. I say, y'all get contacting! We have work to do and I know I'm a talker, but I can only talk to so many people ;) 
I know this work is true and wonderful and marvelous. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I haven't found a suitable rooftop to shout from yet, but we are going to the mountains today for P-day so maybe I'll find a good mountaintop to cry repentance from. 
Love, 
Sister Burchett



Sunday, June 16, 2013

Sacramento - Week 20

Due to the new security measures requested by the Mission leaders, the names of all investigators and people that Sarah comes into contact with will be replaced with the name of a well-known character from a children’s movie. This will keep the identities of people safe as well as make it easier to keep everyone straight. The name given is in NO WAY intended to reflect the personality, looks, or circumstances of the individual(s).



“Here Comes the Bride”
Monday June 10, 2013

Hello one and all! 
This week's letter will probably be shorter than usual because I just spent so much time cracking up at all of the wonderful emails from my baby sister and my best friends in the whole wide world. Thanks y'all for bringing so much joy into my life! 
There were really two big highlights this week: We moved into our new place and Mary Poppins got married! 
First, our new place: We moved into a "Casita" or little house owned by some members in the Rescue ward. It is right across the street from our area and super nice. The house is on their property a little ways off from the main house so we have our own space. It's like a one bedroom studio with a bathroom, kitchen, and living area. Best part: It has a piano! So I have been in heaven. We are finally unpacked and the house is clear of wedding stuff so it actually looks like a house now. Sister Doolittle and Christopher Robin helped us build our beds (all mission furniture comes in a box not even remotely put together) and the Elders helped us build our dresser. I've discovered that I am really bad at putting things together. I can do it. It just takes forever and I get really confused by the little pictures with numbers and letters that are supposed to be helpful but really are not at all. Thank goodness for Elders and the Doolittle’s. I am, however, very good at providing moral support, so that's what I did. haha 
Sis. Roberts and I in our Bridesmaid Dresses
All the missionaries at the Wedding!!!
Mary Poppin's wedding was awesome! We got there early to set up and helped her get ready. I am now officially pro at putting together beautifully simple wedding receptions with little to no money. This has been the second consecutive summer that I have done this. Not exactly something I envisioned happening on my mission, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The ceremony was amazing because it was all focused on how this civil marriage was just a step towards and eternal marriage for them in the temple. The whole focus was the temple and they were both glowing. The Zone Leaders came because her fiancée is their recent convert and they were so appalled that we were bridesmaids. I could not care any less. I told them, what better contacting tool than to be standing in front of two extended families of non-members in your tag. And then mingling at the reception with all of them because that is what bridesmaids do! They are the official minglers for the bride. It was a blast and we taught so many people about the gospel, all while eating cake and celebrating the marriage of two amazing people. Sister Doolittle came and helped us set up, and Christopher Robin came later with the Zone Leaders. He walked through the door, saw Sister Roberts and I in our bridesmaid dresses, and just started laughing. The Sisters in the North Carolina Charlotte mission have nothing on us. Frankly, I don't think there are very many sister missionaries anywhere like us, and that's ok! I told Christopher Robin: "Life is too short to not live enthusiastically." The gospel of Jesus Christ is exciting! Let's get excited about it!!!!!!! Let's tell everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
One of the little girls in our ward who
put on Sis. Roberts name tag to look
like a real missionary :)
So yes, this is the shortest letter I have ever written, but there isn't much to say besides I am well and happier than ever. Being a missionary is the best! It takes a lot of work, and there are a lot of hard times, but through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can overcome all things and find joy in the most difficult journeys. I can't imagine what my life would be like without my mission. The experiences I am having every day and the people that I have met and that I love so much now are priceless. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth, and it changes lives for the better! 
Love y'all! Have a great week! 

Sister Burchett 




P.S. Another funny thing I forgot to tell you:

You know you have been in an area a long time when the ward tells you they think they will just make a missionary plaque for you when you leave because you are basically a member of the ward. 

And one of the Elders told me the other day "Sister Burchett, I don't think you realize this, but you were actually called on two missions: One to Sacramento and one to the El Dorado Stake. You can never leave! It wouldn't be the same!"

Made me feel good. I just love it here!



Sacramento - Week 19

Due to the new security measures requested by the Mission leaders, the names of all investigators and people that Sarah comes into contact with will be replaced with the name of a well-known character from a children’s movie. This will keep the identities of people safe as well as make it easier to keep everyone straight. The name given is in NO WAY intended to reflect the personality, looks, or circumstances of the individual(s).



“I really love cemeteries…is that weird?”
Monday June 3, 2013

Visiting Elder Harris
Howdy! 

This week was great. I just wanted to share an awesome experience we had this week. Last P-day for memorial day, we went to Green Valley Cemetery to visit Elder Harris. Elder Harris passed away while serving in this mission back in 2007. His parents decided to bury him here as a memorial to the mission. Whenever we are having a hard time or when we just need time to think on P-days, we go see Elder Harris. Anyways, we went with Sister Doolittle and Christopher Robin and several young women who are heading out on missions from the Green Valley Ward. After visiting Elder Harris' grave, we had one American flag left. Sister Doolittle asked Sister Roberts and I what we thought we should do with the remaining flag. Almost immediately Sister Roberts and I knew what to do with it. "We need to give it to them," we said, and pointed to the only other people in the cemetery, a couple standing over a grave about 50 yards away. Sister Roberts and I walked over and asked, "Can we put this flag on the grave?" The woman said "Yes! American flags were his favorite thing." We started talking to them and found out that the new grave was where they had laid to rest their 20 year old son who had passed away in a car wreck several weeks ago on Green Valley Road. The miracle was that Brother Doolittle had been one of the men who had found their son! We told them that we were there with the family of the man who found him. We began to speak with them about God's plan for all of us and tried to offer some words of comfort. The mother said, "I know that he is alright, but it's hard. I don't have that peace yet." We promised her that peace WOULD come if she turned her feelings over to the Lord in prayer and had faith that everything would work out alright. We left them with a handshake and a hug and a promise that all would be well. We're trying to track them down and find a way for them to meet with the missionaries again. I am grateful for the promptings of the spirit and this amazing opportunity to be a tool in the Lord's hands. I know there are no coincidences in life, just miracles and tender mercies. 

On a lighter note, we spent the most significant portion of our P-day camping out....and by camping out, I mean sleeping on the Doolittle's deck. You see, we can't be inside the house without an adult female present, and Sister Doolittle needed to work in the garden. Hence, Sister Roberts and I just took the camping pads out on the deck, grabbed a few blankets and the dog bed for Jody and settled in for a lovely afternoon nap. About a half hour into said nap, Jody started barking and we woke to see Christopher Robin looking at us very strangely. "I got home, looked outside, and saw two girls sleeping on my deck with my dog....never thought I would see that. Y'all are so weird." It's true. We are weird, but that was the best nap I have had in months. :D With Christopher Robin home, it was time to set up the teepee. I will have to take some pictures and send them your way. It is the most awesome thing ever, and I want one for my birthday next year. He is doing great by the way! The doctors thought he would never be able to play jumping sports again, but at his follow up appointment they were amazed at how well he was doing and said he should be able to play all jumping sports again in 3 months. He should be back in the field in about 4 weeks. Today he walked 2 miles and only had a little ache. He has to be able to walk 5 miles with zero pain before he can go back out. 
Brother Scott Oompa-Loompa has decided to take the missionary lessons! IT'S A MIRACLE!!!!!! He is the perfect example of what time and love can do for a person's heart. It has been the service of the ward and missionaries that has sparked his interest and desire to have faith. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and his faith is growing. He is changing for the better and it is AMAZING to watch. We can tell his marriage is stronger and his relationship with his children is better too. The gospel of Jesus Christ blesses our families. 
Heading out to go teach Daphne with a future Sister Missionary!
We took one of the girls who leaves for her mission in Wichita, Kansas in 24 days to teach a lesson to Daphne this week. She did great. We taught Daphne about the gospel of Jesus Christ and she really liked it. We had a funny experience while we were there (we always do). Daphne lost one of her medicine bottles and so we were tearing apart the house looking for it. I said, "Daphne, have you said a prayer yet?" She said, "No." I said, "Well, let's pray to find it." So Daphne calls us all together and we hold hands in a circle and Daphne offers the prayer. It was beautiful and sincere, but so very Daphne. It went something like this: Dear God, I need to find my medicine. Please help us to find the medicine before I have an attack. But if it is thy will that I not find the medicine, so be it. But I would like to find it before I pull out Sister Burchett's hair because it is so aggravating that I can't find it. Again, whatever you want, God, but it would be nice to find it before 5 o'clock. Thank you, God. Amen." It's a work in progress, but God loves us all and sanctifies all of our efforts. We found the pills about a minute later. 
Going out shopping!
Mary Poppin's wedding is this weekend! We went shopping today and found the perfect dresses. They are denim on top with brown belt buckle straps. The skirt on Sister Roberts' is yellow and mine is orange (which are Mary Poppin's colors) so it works perfectly. We are in full wedding planning swing. Everyone laughs when we tell them we are bridesmaids and says "I've never seen that before!" Missionary bridesmaids. Yep, only in Green Valley. 
This week at District training we were introducing ourselves. We always have the missionary go up and then all the other missionaries get to ask them a question. My Zone Leader, asked me, "If it's not too personal, what's the biggest change you've seen in yourself on your mission so far?" We were doing speed answers so I said, "Going straight from training to becoming trainer. I had to grow up really fast." But I've been thinking about that a lot this week. I just had my 5 month mission anniversary yesterday. How have I changed? What has my mission done for me so far? 
There's so many things that I realize have changed about myself. I am way more patient that I used to be. I've been humbled beyond belief. I'm happier than I have ever been because I've learned that positivity makes everything better. I love people more and better than I used to. I can really see that Charity that I have always wanted to have (because in all honesty my natural woman is a pretty judgmental person) coming through and changing me. I still get frustrated. I still want to shoot people in the face sometimes. Sometimes I want to kill my companion or my investigators, but whenever I feel that way, I have this little thought pop into my mind "My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them received the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." and then inevitably follows "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." When I remember my purpose and my calling, all the natural woman stuff gets pushed away and all that's left is a missionary. I'm still me: sassy, silly, and spontaneous, but I'm the best version of me - solid in my Savior, spirit-filled, and sanctified. That's what the gospel does for all of us! Isn't it beautiful? :) 
Whoever said "Life is Good" must have been in Texas, but whoever said "they lived after the manner of happiness" must have been a missionary.
Love y'all! 

Sister Burchett


***Extra Photos***
We went to a wedding (Not Mary Poppin's) and there was a man in a kilt and a photo booth that was a door. So naturally we got pictures with the man in the kilt and us tracting out the fake door.



















Just a shot with beautiful timing where it looks like
I'm going to kill Sis. Loli, but I'm not. 



Sunday, June 2, 2013

Sacramento - Week 18

Due to the new security measures requested by the Mission leaders, the names of all investigators and people that Sarah comes into contact with will be replaced with the name of a well-known character from a children’s movie. This will keep the identities of people safe as well as make it easier to keep everyone straight. The name given is in NO WAY intended to reflect the personality, looks, or circumstances of the individual(s).



“A Yellow Dress and Redneck Hymns”
Monday May 27, 2013

Hello everybody! 
It has been an interesting week in Green Valley. I realized last week I didn't actually say what happened at transfers, so in case you didn't figure it out, I'm staying in Green Valley to finish training Sister Roberts. 
Highlights from this week: Well, Daphne has made another step toward baptism but as usual it began with something disastrous. We got a call from the hospital Saturday night saying Daphne was there so we called her and asked what happened. She told us the sheriff found her wandering around her front yard in a daze so they took her to the hospital to get her checked out. Turns out that her medications reacted weird with each other and caused her to go cuckoo. So, at 9:40 at night we were calling our Zone Leaders, telling them this and asking for permission to go out late and let her cats into her house. I don't think they believed us at first, but then they just couldn't get over the situation. But, we went over and checked on her after she was released and she told us she is sick of focusing on herself and wants to move her baptism date up and go out and visit people with us. We took her out with us this morning to visit Snow White and she loved it. It's going to be good for her to have a feeling of purpose. 
We are in full swing planning Mary Poppins' wedding! And, she wants Sister Roberts and I to be bridesmaids. So that means I have to buy something yellow.....but it will be awesome to have missionary companions standing up there with them on their big day. The gospel is awesome! Look how it has changed Mary Poppins and her Fiancée’s lives! 
As missionaries we have to get creative at finding people. Sometimes, people avoid us and we have to become Christ sanctioned stalkers. For example, this week we went with our Bishop's family to the high school spring choir concert so we could track down the parents of several less actives in the choir. We took Christopher Robin too and it was a blast and very successful! We got to talk with lots of them and hopefully they won't avoid us now. The choir sang a lot of gospel songs and it was like being at a revival. The choir director is a member who used to be in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We had a blast listening to the Lower Lights which is like a bluegrass county version of a lot of hymns CD and we were having a missionary redneck moment driving home in the Doolittle's truck rocking out to "I saw the light. No more darkness no more night. Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight. Praise the Lord, I saw the light!" 
Christopher Robin's Door after we Heart Attacked it :)
Christopher Robin had his surgery on Thursday and everything went well. It's looking like he should have a quick recovery at the most 6 weeks. We heart attacked his door the day before surgery with lots of missionary phrases on sticky notes and all those foam sticker hearts (thanks for those mom! I knew we would need them one of these days!) My favorite sticky note said, "Serve the Lord, not the frisbee." (Because that is how he tore his meniscus) The sad thing is that they did have to trim like 40% of his meniscus so now he can't do any more jumping sports. That means no volleyball, which was his favorite thing. I told him though, that there are plenty more things to do with life and he is fine with it. We love Christopher Robin and his positive attitude! He is an awesome missionary and we will be sad to see him leave even though we will be SO happy he gets to go back to his mission. 
If there is one thing I have learned from my mission so far it is that you can't judge a book by its cover. This week we met a guy named Sinbad. Sinbad has a beard and dreadlocks. Normally, if I saw Sinbad walking down the street, I would probably head the other direction and fear for my mortal life, but now we talked with him and had a GREAT discussion with him about the gospel. We are hoping to see him again and get him coming to church. I am starting to truly glimpse the meaning of the Lord looking upon the heart. When we see someone, do we see their heart is singing or do we see what song we write for them in our heads? 
Our Bishop's daughter owns the same dress as me,
so Sis. Roberts borrowed it so we could match.
Christopher Robin made fun of us so bad,
but we all know it was actually quite awesome. 
Mom, you asked what you should have said to the lady who asked what I am doing on a mission. I guess the best answer you could give is that I am paying my own way for 18 months to serve other people. We do service and teach people about Jesus Christ. We teach them that their families can be together forever and that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them. And then you say, "Do you believe that? Would you like to meet some missionaries like my daughter?” or “Do you have some service that needs done at your house or for someone else? I know some missionaries who can help!" 
That's about it from Green Valley this week. It has been a slower week, but never short on the miracles. We are working hard and time is flying way to fast! I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth today in its fullness, and I am so grateful for the chance to share that with the people in Green Valley. 

Love y'all! 
Sister Burchett


Sacramento - Week 17

Due to the new security measures requested by the Mission leaders, the names of all investigators and people that Sarah comes into contact with will be replaced with the name of a well-known character from a children’s movie. This will keep the identities of people safe as well as make it easier to keep everyone straight. The name given is in NO WAY intended to reflect the personality, looks, or circumstances of the individual(s).



“SPLASH!”
Tuesday May 21, 2013

MARY POPPINS GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! How great is my joy! Last week was such a roller coaster leading up to her baptism. She was all in one moment, and then doubting herself the next. We just kept telling her that she was ready, that she had a testimony, and that she was worthy. We fasted all day on Friday that she would show up for her baptismal interview and she did!! And she passed! And she was excited! 

We woke up bright and early for her baptism at 8am on Saturday. We had to be at the church at 6 to fill up the font. It was the most beautiful baptismal service. Her fiancée gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, and the spirit was so strong. A recent convert from our ward and Mary Poppins' fellowshipper also spoke and she shared her experience about her baptism. Again, we were all hit with the most awesome spirit, testifying to all of us about the important covenants that Mary Poppins was making. 
Sister Roberts and I with Mary Poppins and her Fiancee!
She was confirmed on Sunday and she showed me her journal entry from the day before. It basically said that right after her baptism she didn't feel that different and she started doubting whether or not she had made the right decision, but then she was driving to work later on and felt this overwhelming sense of peace. She wrote down her testimony and said she knew that the church had been restored through the prophet, Joseph Smith, and that she was so excited to make more covenants with her Heavenly Father. Mary Poppins is a miracle. I am so grateful to have her in my life! 
Now, on to planning her wedding on June 8th! 
Also, Elder Doolittle, aka Christopher Robin, did have to come home for surgery, but it has been a week filled with tender mercies and we are quickly seeing all the miracles that are happening because he is here. He is the best kind of missionary! We are putting him to work with us, and it's awesome to get to know him and pick his brain. Also, we have a 6'3 body guard to follow us around. Maybe people won't whistle at us from their cars anymore (even though it's good for my self esteem haha) He is going to be here at least 6 weeks rehabbing so we are looking forward to a fun transfer.
At the temple!
L -->R   Elder Christopher Robin Doolittle; Bro. Doolittle; Sis. Doolittle;
Me; Sis. Roberts; Sis. Loli
We went to the temple this morning and it was awesome. Go to the temple. It is worth all the sacrifices to be there. It is God's house, and it is AMAZING. We got to be there with all the Doolittles and Sister Loli and so many of the missionaries I have served with as well as all the girls from Green Valley who are leaving on missions. What an awesome day. 
Funny story from the week: We were walking through an apartment complex in our area and these 8-9 year old boys were having a water gun fight. I yelled, "Truce! Sister Missionaries coming through!" Of course, they took that as a cue to plaster us with water. We spent the rest of the day wet, but we turned it into a contacting opportunity. Missionary work is fun! 
Lost in deep, deep Placerville....
We also got to drive a 2013 Toyota Corolla this week for 24 hours while our car was in the shop. Of course this was the day we went to deep, deep Placerville in the mountains to have dinner with Mary Poppins and her Fiancée. It made for an adventure down dirt roads when we got lost and the GPS took us way off the grid. We had to call our Zone Leaders to come and find us and show us where the house was. Good times. The car, in case you were wondering, made it just fine. Just a little bit dusty....
Sad news, our ward missionary, Sister Cullen, moved back to Idaho! She and Brother Cullen left on Friday. They got to see us and Christopher before they went home though. The Cullen’s are a perfect example of making marriage work. They have this song they sing together and the deal is that if one starts to sing it, no matter what, the other one has to sing too. It goes "I love you more today than I loved you yesterday. But I must confess, today I love you less, than I will tomorrow." How cute and Celestial is that?! 
Small world moment: A girl I worked with at Writing Fellows at BYU is marrying a boy whose parents live in Green Valley, so she was in church on Sunday and we got to chat. She sent a picture of us to our old boss. 
Well, I think that about wraps it up from Green Valley this week. Now, we just have to go out and find somebody else to teach.....yay! The church is true and missionary work is the best work ever. 

Love, 
Sister Burchett