Date
August 2, 2016
Area
Companion
"Ode to Elder Selman"
Monday, August 1, 2016
This week has been crazy. Lots of things happening. Elder Selman is going home.
There are going to be a lot of missionaries leaving from our zone this transfer. There are going to be two new district leaders, Iâm going to be training a new companion to be a zone leader, and there will be a lot of new people transferred into our zone. Itâs a bit crazy thinking about so much change. It is actually really sad. Iâm going to really miss Elder Selman. Heâs really awesome.
Our Zone These last four months have been a such a fun time. Weâve had the chance to get to know each other really well, and have grown as a companionship, as weâve gotten to know the Lord through study and prayer. We've learned so much while teaching others. Itâs going to be very sad to see him go. It feels a bit surreal. I feel like I'm watching it all through a window, like it's not real.
Itâs strange to watch someone end their mission. Itâs crazy to think there is actually an end to this journey. Up until now, there really hasnât been an end, or a life after. My whole life has been preparing to serve a mission, and Iâm finally here. Anything after a mission has never really been on a to-do list. Now, watching him get ready to go home has made me think that this time wonât last forever. So I need to keep going, keep running, doing all I can before it's over. I donât want any down time to let Satan get in and mess things up.
Iâve learned so much from Elder Selman. Iâm sitting here on my bed thinking about the time weâve served together, and Iâve opened up the scriptures to Moroni 10:21 âExcept ye have Charity, ye can in no wise be saved in the kingdom of God. Neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith. Neither can ye if ye have not hope.â I hope thatâs right in English. I think this is one of the biggest things Iâve learned from Elder Selman, his example of living a life of true Charity. Loving people without a reason to love, seeing people for who they are, and loving men for what they can become. Loving the progress of people and trying to help them grow. Heâs been such a great example.
This week is really bitter sweet. Weâve had a lot of good-byes and pictures. We had two baptisms this week, Sister Angela and Sebastian, the last child in his family to get baptized. We rescued his mother when she came back from Santa Marta. She became active in the church again, and he is now getting baptized. The baptismal service was so sweet! There were over SEVENTY people in attendance. For this mission, and this area, that is a lot of people at a baptism. There are some wards that donât even have 70 people in them. The ward leaders took over and helped a lot with planning and running the whole thing. It was so exciting!
#Splashparty Angela's Baptism, Sebastian's Baptism
Elder Selman's last Baptismal Service on his mission.
aka. grand finaleAngela was baptized by her husband Dido. Sebastian was baptized by his uncle. And there was an 8 year old member baptism from the ward and he was baptized by his father Jorge Dias, who is so funny. Heâs one of my favorites. Heâs got this tiny white car that he drives around and tells funny jokes, we call him the 'bulldog' in ward council. We finished the week really strong. We worked our hardest to make it happen for Elder Selman to finish his mission at his very best. We are really happy with how things went.
I love you guys. Have a great week!
Elder Burk
-------- "super atractivo Elder Selman" He'll be missed.
----------Ok, Mom, a little side note, between you and me...
Braden and Madelyn at the Callister Family ReunionIâm a little bit confused and a little bit hurt here, I donât know what to do about Bradenâs haircut??! Itâs kind of making me worried as his big brother. Itâs a little bit⦠how do I say this nicely, Itâs really weird! Itâs kind of a little like Justin Beiber. Iâm really questioning whatâs going on at home??!I hope you guys are eating enough meat. Are you letting him listen to country music??! I hope everyone is watching out for Braden. We really want him to go on a mission and get marriedâ¦to a girl. So if there is anything going on, or if I should write him a letter, I hope youâll let me know. Yeahâ¦so, love you guys. Hope everyone else is doing great.
Bye Mom.