Nineteen, a Remodel, Exchanges, and a Hidden Miracle

This has been a fun week! As many know, I turned nineteen this past Friday. I felt much love and thank everyone that shared their love for my birthday. It was felt and made a missionary very happy! Now enough about me and onto the important stuff!

Couches. We have a couch in our flat that some previous missionaries destroyed. It has been in our flat taking up room for many transfers. We recently had our landlord over, multiple times, due to a leak in our shower. While he was here, he saw the couch and mentioned a lady who was giving hers away. A few days later, she knocked on our door and said, "I understand you need a couch". We didn't have the room ready for the extra couch, so we started rearranging. We are actually pretty happy with it! It's very cozy now. 

We also had our first district council of the transfer. The Zone leaders came, and gave a really good training. Afterward we went on exchanges. The exchanges were short, but I learned a lot from them. We were able to teach Christina, and had a wonderful lesson, where we were able to use video games as a parable for scripture study! (I learned a lot about using parables. I want to get better at it. After all, the Master Teacher used powerful parables frequently to teach for understanding) 

Then comes Thursday. We had interviews with President in Newcast-Under-Lyme. We had to leave right at ten to get there. We bought our ticket, hopped on the train, got off at our change in Wolverhampton, and then got a call from our zone leaders informing us that interviews were cancelled. So, with £6 left, we began our journey back home. With interviews cancelled, and having no backup plan for them, we decided to call our friend Paul. He has come to church the past 2 weeks, and we've been planning to extend a baptismal invitation to him. It just so happens that Paul was free in the afternoon!

The lesson went so well, and the spirit was strong. He asked so many questions that led straight to baptism. We watched the video of Christ being baptised. We asked him why Christ, a perfect man, needed baptism. At first he was stumped, but then said, "If Christ was perfect and was baptised, it must be very important. I should probably be baptised too." I can't say we did anything, it was all the Holy Spirit. He is so ready!

All I can say is trust in the Lord's timing. It may not always be what we expect or want it to be, but Heavenly Father knows what's best for us. We were looking forward to interviews, but because they were cancelled, we were able to teach Paul and invite him to baptism! Heavenly Father knows all. He knows what is best for us, and when we need things. 

I love you all! 

Elder Burns

England Manchester Mission

Springwood, Suite G5

Booths Park

Chelford Road

Knutsford

England WA16 8GS

United Kingdom