24 June 2012

Hey Family, Right now I am sitting in the mission office waiting for my departure interview. So I thought I'd write you a short letter. Tomorrow we'll have a career workshop and then we'll be have a departure meeting and head to Manila. Tonight, however, I get to have one last Family Home Evening here in the Philippines. I can't believe it's already time to go home. It's happened so fast. I have so many mixed feelings. I'm going to miss the mission so much. It really means everything to me. The Lord has taught me so much about myself while I've been out here, and I'm not going to forget it. This mission will be a foundation for the rest of my life. We worked this week just like any other week. And everything just seemed to fit together just right. The Lord reminded me several times the joy that happens from serving the Lord. I'll don't have much time, but I'm so happy to be here in the mission. I'm excited for the chance I had to serve in Dao Branch. At first I was disappointed, but I've come to understand that this was exactly where the Lord needed me. We actually had a branch family home evening last Saturday. The entire branch was super excited. It had been a while since they've had an activity like that. I was a lot of fun. Of course, after we shared a short message, we played games. And of course, if you lose the games, you have to do a talent. For one members talent they knew I was going home soon and they had written a song for me. "Goodbye my Friend." It was the most awkward moment ever. All the members we're looking at my wiping their eyes because they thought I would cry. But the song was actually kind of catchy. They wrote the words down for me but I can't remember all of the tune. And they wrote it in English. They did pretty good. On Sunday we had the best attendance at church I've seen my entire time in Dao. There were 3 speakers last sunday. I was the concluding, the other 2 were primary kids, like 10 years old, and they spoke like 2 minutes each. After that President Oyong looked at me and said, "Dher! You gotta speak for like 45 minutes!" I did okay. I only spoke like 30 then ended it because people would just get bored! But it was good. The best news about church though was our family, the Ocario, came to church. Both the mom and dad!! We are way excited!! They had a good time there. Then like every less-active we visited ended up coming this sunday. I'm not sure how it happened, but it did. Dao is gonna be good. It has a lot of potential. Oh, good news pa. We set up Home Teaching last sunday with the help of the EQP, and we planned to have accounting every sunday! Lorenz and Kris Vidal went Home TEaching!! And they brought a LA back!! It was perfect. Anyway, I'll have to tell you more another time. I love you. See you soon! Elder Burton

17 June 2012

Gud am pamilya ko! Sounds like you had some crazy adventures. My week went really great again. The best news, of course, was the baptism of Brother Lorenz Celorico. He's a great guy. He asked me to baptism him. So that was pretty cool. The waves we're pretty big so they wanted to do it in a place with no waves so we found a spot but it was only knee deep for me. After two tries we couldn't get him completely under so I told them we should just move over to where the waves are so it would be deeper. They told me to just try again and I told Lorenz to take a deep breath and just lie down on the bottom. So we did it again and he made it! He's a great guy and way excited about everything. In a couple years he'll serve a mission! He'll be a great young man in our branch. Last sunday he invited one of the less-active young men that we visited with Lorenz when he was still an investigator and little Leonard Delacruz came back to church for the first time in over a year! President Oyong saw him come back and basically jumped for joy. He pointed his finger at him during sacrament and said, "Look he's back!! Let's fellowship him and nourish him and help him stay!" It was great! Last monday we headed out to some resorts because we heard there were some good caves to look at. We saw some good views but it wasn't anything we don't see every day while we're working! Then Elder Solis said he wanted to go check out this 'mini zoo' we heard of. Inside of the mini zoo they had like 4 different animals. One of them was a chicken. One was a pigeon. The most interesting thing they had was a squirrel. It reminded me of that movie where they try to sell squirrels and have a lot of them in cages. I admit though it was weird seeing a squirrel. Anyway, I'm trying to make sure my shoes endure to the end. They still look gwapo but they have a hole in the bottom. Last tuesday I put a piece of electrical tape on the bottom and that worked for about 3 hours. The next day I cut out a piece of cardboard for a sole but it rained like crazy that day, so it was destroyed. The next day it was raining again so I just a plastic bag around my foot and put on my shoe. That worked okay but the next day I cut out another cardboard sole and then wrapped it in tape and plastic. That's been working great! So I think I've told you a little bit about the language here in Antique. It's karay-a. But Elder Solis just came from Aklan and he just can't stop speaking Aklanon! He was asked to speak district meeting last week and I think he spoke 5 different languages as he taught. But the hard thing for us is we have some investigators that are just Tagalog which makes it hard. It hurts my head since you have to think really hard which word you're suppose to use, and I end up speaking kind of slow. In my head I think, "okay, I gotta say why... andut.. no!..ngaa.. no!...wanhaw... no! ngaman.. no!... bakit... yeah that's it! But the other day we went to Edgar (our recent convert), who is Tagalog, and Elder Solis said something in Karay-a to him and I could see he was a little confused, so I said the word in Tagalog for him. His wife, Tueni, just looked at both of us and said, "whoa, that was mixed up." It was kind of funny. Speaking of Edgar, he finally got the job he's been looking and praying for. The problem is, it's in Manila. He and his family decided he should go, even though he won't be with his family. We know he has a testimony, but we've been a little worried about him since he won't have all the support he's had him. So please keep him in your prayers. But we heard some good news last Sunday. Tueni's mom, Sister Llena, worked with us last sunday and told us that Edgar's mom called her. (Most grown people live with their parents here) Anyway, I guess Edgar was about to eat with all of his siblings, when he said, "Hey wait. We have to pray first!' Then he added, "Just close your eyes and listen to me!" Then he prayed. I guess his mom started crying when she saw how much he's changed. He won't drink with them anymore too. She was so happy. So I hope he'll be able to be a good example to his family and they too will accept the gospel! The hard thing though, is we need priesthood here in Dao!! There's just no work and everyone's moving away!! I am grateful though, that this one less-active family we've been working with is on the right track again. They've been to church for 2 weeks now! In Sunday School the father stood up and bore his testimony in tears how happy he was and how grateful he was for the mercies of God and his chance to come back, though he's made so many mistakes. I'm grateful for that fact too. It's a promise from the savior. If we repent, he will receive us! Let us accept this great promise. It didn't really hit me till yesterday in church how close the end is! It's scary. It's weird even at this point in your mission you still have days where you are 'punted' all day. Or people don't accept you. We had one day where we went to all our plans and back ups and no one was home (or hiding). We had some youth working with us and I really wanted them to have a good experience. Finally after 5 hours of walking around in the rain we got to teach the the Ocario Family, who went to church last week. We had a fairly simple lesson with them and didn't really share what we planned since the entire family wasn't home. But after the lesson we were walking away and Sister Loribel, the member, said something like, "Whoa, you could feel the spirit so strong in that lesson. I wish every one would just follow that and become members of the church. It's true!" It touched my heart that that one lesson made the whole day great for this young woman. The mission is hard. But in the end I won't remember the hours I've spent walking around, wiping the sweat off my face, going to houses seeing people hide from us. I'll remember the simple, joyful moments I've had. I'm grateful I've been able to do the Lord's work. And I'm not going to stop when I get home. The lessons learned will forever be a part of me. I am who I am because of this mission. It's become a foundation that I hope to continue building on for the rest of my life. I love you! Elder Burton P.S. Hey could you send me a package? :p

10 June 2012

Hey Family, Thanks for getting that apartment set up for me mom! I'm excited. And for looking into work for me. I hope everything works out! Seriously, thanks for everything! I'm lucky to have such a great family!! This week was probably one of our best weeks here in Dao. I've actually been worrying all week about our area. It's really hard to get it progressing, since there is not to many job opportunities here. This summer, 2 of our 3 young men are going to work in Manila to save up for their missions. Edgar and Tueni's families might move to Mindanao because they have land there. It's good. They'll all be active in the church, but it's hard to establish the church here in Dao! We actually tried to find a ton of less-actives on the branch list but found out most of them are in Manila working. So we're trying to hold everything together. But, like always, God shows us that this is his gospel, and everything will work out. I'm not sure what happened, but suddenly all the less-actives we've been working with came to church. We actually had 2 families of less-actives come! It was such a great sight! We had had really good lessons with them this week. With one family we had been having a particularly hard time. We went to their house and what we had planned to share with them didn't quite feel like. Instead, we decided to have a testimony meeting with them. It turned out to be perfect. At first the father said, I've run out of testimony, but after that, after we shared and then his wife. He opened up. I think they'll be okay. This family has already been to the temple I think they've just lost some hope. But they'll get it back! I'm way happy. They are such a great family and will be a powerful example to others. When I was on exchanges on Thursday with Elder Petersen (he's my batch to go home) we also had a great lesson with a less-active. Other members had told us not to bother going to him because tons of missionaries had and he still hasn't come back. But we went and started sharing with him the restoration, what we planned. We hoped by reviewing that it would help him remember the joy he once felt in the gospel. After sharing a little, we realized nothing was happening. We started whispering to each other, and Elder Peterson said, "We just got to be crazy bold with this guy, like what Elder Nielson did when he was stake president." We agreed and then the brother asked, "What are you two whispering about?!" Then we said, "Brad, we're talking about what we got to do to help you come back to church!" He then told us some lame excuses why he doesn't come (tired, has to feed his cow) so we asked him, "Brad, when you get to the judgement bar of God, and he asks you, why aren't you coming to church, what are you going to say?" He said, "I'll ask for forgiveness." We told him he's not going to get it! (That's one other thing Elder Nielson taught us, that few people really understand what repentance really is) We talked some more and he was shaken a little, and he told us, "Fine, I'll go to sacrament, but I'm going to go home before the speakers speak!" We told them thats a fine start and accepted it. Hopefully we can keep helping this guy get active in the church. During a lesson this week some kids we're being annoying so Elder Solis told them if they didn't stop an aswang (like a monster) would come eat them. That didn't work so Elder Solis told the kids that he was going to cut off their eggs and fry them later that night for his dinner. They ran away. I was quite surprised but everyone said that's a normal thing to say. Anyway, church was sweet! I've never seen it so full. We actually had 3x as many investigators come as ever. Everyone just showed up. It was unbelievable. We actually have a new family we're working with, the Ocario Family, who came to church, except the Dad didn't come because he had work. We've committed them to baptism in July and hopefully we can get the Dad to church next week! Elder Solis and I had to speak in Sacrament meeting. They told us to speak 5 to 10 minutes. Elder Solis spoke first and ended up speaking for 40 minutes!! So after that I stood up and just spoke for like 2 minutes about faith! It was crazy. That guy can talk forever. The concluding speaker said, "Thanks for your messages. Even though Elder Solis' message was way stinkin long, I'm sure we all felt the spirit! It was good though. The other good news is in sunday school they always use our investigators as example. Last week with Lorenz always working with us (baptism next week btw) and then this week they used it as no excuse to not go to church. The members talked about how dedicated they are. They said it's so great, they walk 5km every week from the mountain, even though its way muddy and slippery and a hard path, just to be able to go to church. They said it depends on your dedication. If you have decided to do something, you're going to do it, because its right! I'm grateful to be here in Dao. There's so much work to be done, and so little time. But I'll do everything I can! I love you! Elder Burton

3 June 2012

Hey Family, Thanks for the info dad. I'll check that out, and ask president about that. But that would be sweet if we could apply. I would really love doing that. Thanks for looking into that for me. This week was great. I'm grateful to have spent another week in the service of the Lord. We worked hard this week, and saw a lot of success, even though we had two days this week in Iloilo. Last night when we were closing Elder Solis said to me in Tagalog. Der, you know, you are kind of like a kulangot. I wasn't sure what that meant so I asked and he wouldn't tell me. Today I looked it up. It means a dry booger. I guess thats whats happened to me over these two years. I've become a dried booger. haha. He was just joking of course. That sly guy. Anyway, our week was really good. Elder Nielson of the 70 came to visit and we had a zone conference with him in Iloilo. It was a great experience. I could literally sit for days at his feet listening to him. It was so amazing. Any question we had he could tell us the answer from the scriptures. He didn't even have to hold the scriptures as he taught. He would just tell us to open up our scriptures and yup, there it was. There is so much about the church to learn. This is truly God's church. It's perfect. I thought I've learned a lot on my mission, and while I have, I still have a lot to learn. So I'll keep studying every day. I don't have time to share all my notes with you but he shared cool stuff with us, like about his experience when he spoke at general conference. He also focused on helping us know how to help less-actives come back to church. Lunch was delicious. I finished all my food and then was sitting there digesting when Elder Andrews came up to me and said, "You're not going to finish that?" I said, "What do you mean, I already ate all the food on my plate!" He then said, "I can't believe you're not going to finish that?!" And then he picked up the banana peel on my plate and started eating it. I started eating it too. We finished our food. We have to be finishers, not starters. I had an embarrassing moment with Elder Nielson. I walked into the bathroom after lunch and saw my zone leaders. I said to them enthusiastically, "Hey!!! What's crack-a-lackin ye elders of Israel!?" They didn't say a word back to me. I thought they were just being kind of mean but then Elder Nielson walked out of the stall. He just smiled at me. I started playing a new game when we go to a former investigator or visit a less-active member for the first time. The game is, "Find the Book of Mormon!" Anyway, we entered into a house of this one former investigator and there I saw it. It was tucked in between two layers of the grass roofing of the house. We were in a house probably as big as our kitchen area. I asked the man if he still had his Book of Mormon and he said he lost it a long time ago. I'm quite surprised that although one of his few possessions in his tiny house is the Book of Mormon, he didn't know where it was. I got it for him. We explained how precious the book is and invited him to read. I hope he does. For all these years he's been struggling in his life, with barely anything, but sitting in his house is a way to obtain riches and happiness greater than he can even imagine. That's what we're trying to help people accept; the greatest gift our heavenly father wants to give them. Next week we should have the baptism of Lorenz. I'm really excited. He's a great kid and he'll be a great help in our branch. I was teaching sunday school last sunday and I was talking about being watchmen from Ezekiel and how each of us in the branch are like watchmen. I was trying to get the branch more excited about their responsibilities. Elder Solis and I are trying to visit all the LAs, trying to strengthen all the members, but we can't do it alone, we need members help!! One of the members mentioned as I taught Lorenz. He said, "Lorenz works with the elders every Thursday! And he's not even a member!" The funny thing too is mostly we take Lorenz to visit less-actives. He's a sweet kid. He'll be a great member and help. We're really driving in him enduring to the end. I think he'll do it. He told us if he has to he'll walk to church on Sunday! I love you all! Thanks for the birthday wish. I'm happy to be out here. Tell Jared and Rob to just email me! Take care, Elder Burton

27 May, 2012

Dearest Family of which I have been born into, Wow! I can't believe schools out. I think I haven't realized how old people are getting. I think I'm going to be pretty surprised when I see everyone. Kelsey wrote and said that she's driving now. I am official worried for the safety of the american people. I'll just make sure I'm not on the road the same time she is. It's weirding me out. I remember her as a little girl. Anyway, I hope Jared's doing good too. I'm not sure what's happening with his head. And Mitchell, tell him I'll miss him and I'll be sure to write him at least 2 times, because he wrote me two times. Dad, two weeks ago a member walked into the computer shop, a sister, who is pretty good at English and read over my shoulder about you upgrading our toilet so it has a double flush. She makes fun of me every time I see her. She laughs that of all things that's what you would write me about. But honestly, I love reading your adventures. Thanks for your letters every week. Elder Solis and I are working harder than ever. But boy, other missionaries don't let you forget that you're going home in a couple weeks. At District Conference an elder came up to me and told me exactly how many days I have left. I asked him, "How do you even know that!?" And I told him to stop talking about it! Haha. I gotta focus. Even Sister Pagaduan (mission presidents wife) came up to me and said, "You're going home soon!" But nonetheless, we had a great week! So we did have District Conference, and Elder Nielson of the 70 came to visit. We sang a special musical number. I sang bass, because my voice is so manly and so deep. It was a really good experience. We had a bunch of Less-actives from Dao attend and the best things was everyone was wearing shirts and ties. Usually on Sundays here not even our branch president wears a tie. We had just given some young men, Deo and Gadwin, some shirts and we're trying to help them get on missions. They looked way gwapo, so did our branch president. Also it was great because 3 returning members we've been working with have received the Melchezidek Priesthood! It was surprising how many people showed up, because it's an hour ride from Dao to get there, but almost more people attended than attend in Dao! So it was a good week. We really focused on inviting everyone to go. There is a primary kid in our branch whose name is RR. But one sister in our branch always calls him Kyle. I asked her why, and she told me, "I like the name Kyle. And I'm the only one who calls him that." Elder Solis and I are really striving to strengthen the branch, and help every member magnify their office. We're visiting a lot of less-actives, and trying to help people come back and help every member become more strengthen. One idea we had is to assign every active member to focus on one less-active family. Just in small ways. Like if the member doesn't go to church the active member will call them, see whats going on, and see what they can do to help. Then we'll follow up with them. I really feel if every member fellowships one another, and shows their love to them, they'll come back! Elder Solis and I are running around like crazy trying to help people, we just don't have enough time! We can't do it alone. That's one thing that scares me. Dao Branch needs a lot of help. It's struggling. Maybe only 15% of members are active, and only 10% of those are actually reading their scriptures daily and doing other things. We have a lot to do but I know my time is coming to a close. But we're building a strong foundation, so the work will continue. I hope the bar is being raised. One missionary and their actions can hurt an area for a long time, and it can effect future missionaries. Like before, missionaries used to have their laundry done by members, not a big deal, but president told us we shouldn't do that. So when I got here, we had to put a stop to it and tell the members they couldn't. It's kind of scary to do so. It's partly how these members make a living, and I didn't want to offend anyone. But I know I couldn't bear going home not being obedient to the council of my leaders, who I sustain. So we told them, and stopped it. At first she was kind of mad but just yesterday she told us she wanted to work with us! I'm grateful for that blessing. The Lord is blessing us a lot in this area, and things are looking good for the future. We had a pretty good experience though this week. We were suppose to be tracking but unfortunately we weren't finding anyone. We decided to stop and say a prayer to help us find someone who needs our help. We ended up walking and seeing some guy outside cleaning his shoes. We talked to him. He is living in Manila and he recently got married and is on vacation here. He told us how many different churches he's visited to know how he can be a good father and raise his family well. He wants his family to be strong. He told us he was a chick boy before but now he wants to be a good guy. We were able to share with him. He's going back to Manila, but from the experience I received a witness that God really does know each of his children. He knows where they are and what they need. And even though we won't be able to visit that guy again, I hope he can continue in Manila. Because this gospel is exactly what he needs. A little experience like that is sometimes the most fulfilling on your mission. Being led by the spirit to someone in need. It's the best feeling when your teaching and you know you're speaking the words God would have you speak. When you're working and you know you are doing the work of the Lord. When things happen and you know they are answered prayers. I love this work. It's the Lord's work. And I know it's not over when my mission ends. I hope throughout my life I can continue being and instrument of the master. No matter what his call is for me I'm going to make sure I do my part. That's why I gotta make sure I'm 100% obedient, always. I love you all. I'm glad I get to see you all in a couple of weeks. Thanks for giving birth to Jared 3 years after me and not just 1. haha. Anywho. There's a white guy in our district named Bubba. He's the biggest Hillbilly ever. He sells sausage so I ordered some from him. But anyway, I'll leave you with the words he left me with. Well guys, I gotta oogie boogie. See you later alligator. Elder Burton

20 May 2012

Hey Family, Sorry we got cut off last week! I forgot to charge the phone! But it's cool, it was fun talking to you and I'm excited to again in a couple of weeks. I'm glad everything is going good there. It sounds like your doing a lot of projects. You'll have to put me to work when I get home. And good news, I was able to order some belts this week! That's cool you had stake conference though, we actually have district conference next week. So, yes, we did have transfers this last week. It's a weird feeling, being in my last transfer, but we're working harder than ever. It's weird its just like another regular day of missionary work. My last day will be just another regular day of missionary work, and then it will be done. But I'm so grateful to be here on the mission. I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had here and what I've become for anything in the world. So on Wednesday I got my new companion, Elder Solis, aka. Killer. He's going to kill me, mission term wise. He's a great kid. He's like a spit image and acts exactly like Elder Tiamzon, my trainer. I told him that and he told me that other missionaries have called him "Little Tiamzon." So this transfer is going to be interesting. But he's a good kid, and has good desires to serve. He's been kind of surprised with the area because he's other areas have been a little more established and a little overwhelmed with how much we got to do, but he'll make it. I'm excited to work with him, we're going to get a lot done. Anyway, this Thursday we went to Sta. Tomas to work and teach Lorenz and his family, the Celorico's. We actually committed them to be baptized in July, so I'm way excited for their family. Lorenz is a great kid. He worked with us from noon, after weekly planning, until 9pm hiking all over a mountain, even though he is just an investigator. It was amazing as we had him help explain certain principles. He taught one person how to pray and you could feel the spirit as he said, "two weeks ago I didn't know how to pray, but this is how it blessed my life..." He's a great kid. It was interesting too because we asked him where all these less actives lived and he showed us to all their houses. So we got to meet some really long-time less-actives and it was a little interesting because the nonmember Lorenz was inviting them to come back to church. Usually its the opposite, with members inviting investigators to church. But, this is good too. I don't know if I told you but Lorenz had been struggling with his doubts if Thomas S. Monson is really a true prophet, but after working with us I had asked him how he felt about it all, as we walked down the mountain. He told me he felt it was all true. It was kind of a cool experience because by him working and feeling the spirit it wiped away a lot of the doubts he had. I feel that's how it works sometimes. You may have doubts about something but deep down you know its true, and you don't realize it till you feel the words coming out of your mouth, testifying of it. It amazes me how the spirit works with people, and I'm always grateful knowing that this is the Lord's work, and he'll take care of everything. He'll witness through his spirit that what we say is true. And as long as they open their hearts, they will know that it's true. You can't compete with the spirit. I love playing on a team that I know cannot lose. Anyway, Sunday school is a little interesting in our branch. The teacher is all about sharing 'facts' (kind of) and it's like a history class. He went off for like 10 minutes about how american history is wrong. He said that there are no Indians in America. Filipinos are from the Philippines, Canadians are from Canada, Mexicans are from Mexico, Americans are from America, and Indians are from India! INDIANS ARE NOT FROM AMERICA!" He asked me what I thought of that and I didn't say much. I tried to somehow connect things into the gospel so we could be uplifted. Hehe. Sometimes I don't know whats going on in peoples heads. We had a cool lesson this week with Sister Villamena. She hasn't been really keeping any commitments so we focused our lesson on the Book of Mormon. Elder Solis shared about where the Book of Mormon came from and then I felt prompted to share a story from the Book of Mormon. We told her and promised her as she read the she would be guided by the spirit and through it God would be able to speak to her, then we told the story of Nephi's great task to build a boat and read in 1 Nephi 17:50-51 about how he knew that through God he can do all things. It touched my heart as she read and said to herself, "This scripture was written for me." The Book of Mormon was written for us. It really comes alive when we can find ourselves and others inside of it. Every day when I read I can see myself within its pages. It's an inspired book. I read a story about Spencer W. Kimball when he attended a missionary conference. He listened to a speaker and commented to him, "Wow Brother! You've used a verse in the book of Mormon in a way I've never thought of using before. And to think I've read the Book of Mormon over 47 times." I thought it was cool because no manner how many times you read, the spirit will make known unto you exactly what you're suppose to get out of it. It's really funny because Elder Solis too just came from Aklan. His language is so mixed up. He's speaking mixed Aklanon, Tagalog, Ilonggo, and Kinaray-a. He'll catch on though eventually. He's a great cook though too. Whoa. Well, take care. I love you so much! Elder Burton

13 May 2012

Hey Family, I thought I had some crazy things to say but it sounds like a lot is happening back too. I hope nothing too big got stolen from Rob, and I'm impressed Jared and Dad can lift a huge rock. And I'm excited to see Rebekah's new hair. Hmm.. I'm not sure what we'll do for the calling. I was going to just give you our number so you could call it but at our baptism on saturday Elder Andal went into the water with the phone in his pocket, so we don't have a phone, I'll just have to email you next week, we'll go earlier in the morning though so we can tell you what's happening. This computer doesn't have skype though. Anyway, this week was really good. So we had the baptism of Edgar Alilio! It was a really good service. We did it in the ocean and it was way sweet. Elder Andal was really excited we got to the ocean about an hour before and he got dressed right away, about an 1 1/2 hour before we actually started. He's funny. Afterwards we had the baptism. It was a great service. We invited his wife to be a speaker and she was super excited about it. She was active in her youth but moved to Manila and became less-active. But just recently she became active again and she was super excited to speak. She told us any assignment she receives she'll accept it. She's on fire. By the way, her birthday is June 9! Anyway, the service was great, Elder Andal and I sang a special musical number, but as usual my favorite part was Edgar's testimony. That man is changed. I remember the first time I met him I had little hope. He didn't believe he could do it and he ran away from us the first time. But now he's on fire. He said in his testimony how nervous he was to go into the water, but as he entered, he felt and knew for himself that Heavenly Father loved him and he was choosing the right. Next year they'll go to the temple. I'm excited for them. We also had a new investigator go to the baptism, Sister Cora. She's different. I can see how the Lord has prepared her. We first met her a couple weeks ago at a well doing her laundry. We told her a little about her message and she told us she has a hobby listening to people like us and she told us she'll give us money too. We told her we wouldn't accept her money but we would accept her time. The next week we were able to teach her and she's such a great lady. She's 74 years old and actually a vice-president in a certain group in her religion. Last week she committed to come to church but last Sunday she didn't show up! We went to her house later and found out she wasn't there, and we were a little worried. The next night, after an FHE we were walking home and though night time, we randomly saw her on the street farther away from her house. She told us how happy she was to see us, and she felt so bad that she didn't go to church. She couldn't describe her feelings but she told us she new that God sent us to her. We continued visiting her and her faith is growing and she's recognizing the spirit. On Saturday she actually attended the baptism and sunday she went to church! You can imagine our surprise when this Sister was on of the people who stood up and bore her testimony, her first time ever at church!! I was way confused, she was sitting with members, and all I can do was listen. I was alarmed when she started her testimony by saying, "I am a perfect catholic!", but after that it was really good. She has felt so good about everything. We committed her to baptism later that day and she told us that she needs time to explain to the presidency at her church and her family she's going to change, but she agreed to a date in a couple months. We're excited for her, it's truly a miracle and I know the Lord has blessed us and guided us to her. This week Elder Andal and I made a goal to use our time more wisely. Every day I'm a little surprised at the way we find to waste time. Anyway, the other day Elder Andal saw this member cutting her son's hair. Elder Andal told her he was a pro and he should just do it. So he spent about an hour trying to cut this kids hair. I felt so stinkin bad for this kid, his hair is destroyed. It looked like he got into a fight with a weed wacker. Luckily the member had no hard feelings, hehe. Anyway, I can't control my companion, but I made a goal for myself that when he does weird things like that (they happen more often than you think) that I would find nearby people and talk to them about our message, and I had one cool experience with that. His name is Doc, or Rodrigo. He's the baranggay drunk of banban, and he lives in the middle of a ton of members. Anyway, I saw him the other day and started talking to him. He is a nice guy, and I learned a lot about him. Before he had a lot of good goals, to get married, get a job. But it didn't happen. That's why he is the way he is right now. But I talked to him and at least invited him to join our lesson with the members who are a little less-active. We taught a lesson on hope. It was sweet. Doc's joined in two lessons now. He's still drinking like crazy. But I can't lose my faith for him. I know that anyone, even a man like him, can change. So I'm not going to give up. I hope we can help him. But I'm grateful for him. Anyway, I guess that is about it! I'm excited to talk to you next week. And I'm really grateful for your letters. They really mean a lot and I take them to heart. Love you! Elder Burton