Hey Family!
This week was pretty good. It was kind of hard though. Mostly because my companion, Elder Eror, had to go to Iloilo for training for 3 days, and we had a lot to do!
I don't know if you remember, but I was telling you about the toko and really long time ago, and how they make the really annoying noises. I hear them every single night, but I've never actually seen one. Well one got stuck in the window sill of Elder Reyes' room and so he ran downstairs and told me to come see (because he knew I've never seen one). So I went upstairs and looked. It was pretty big. But Elder Reyes wanted it out of his window sill because it's stinkin' sabad, or annoying. So Elder Bautista (his new upod) went and got some alchohol and sprayed it all over the toko and they lit it on fire. It was kind of crazy. They said they couldn't grab it because it would bite and destroy them. It was kind of crazy. I asked Elder Reyes if that was his first time doing that and he said no, he's done it like 6 times already. Then I took a picture and they told me the tokos would come and get revenge on me, so I said, "oh my.." Was that story exciting? Probably not too much.
So Elder Bautista, he's kind of a funny guy. He was trained in the Area I'm in, Roxas 2. Then went to Kalibo, then returned here to Roxas 4. I thought that was funny. I was surprised when I saw him, because his name was on all our Teaching Records, I thought I was meeting a famous guy. I worked with him and Elder Reyes on Friday and he was asking me what some english swear words are. I didn't really want to tell him any so I told him "Fiddly Wah!" and told him if he's playing cards and has a bad hand he can say, aww, my hand is fiddly wah!' remember? His english is kind of funny too. He says dude and man a lot! He always says to me, "You're the man, man." He talks cool. Because they all watch american tv or something! I also showed him a picture of my family, and he said Rob looks like a rock star. I thought it was pretty funny. Elder Eror showed me pictures of his family too. It was of him at a wedding of his brother. I asked when the wedding was, and it was while he was on a mission. I was wondering how he was in the pictures, but then he was telling me it was a full-sized cardboard cutout of him! I thought that was hilarious.
So I only got to work with Elder Eror on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday we did family home evening with this family. We had only taught them once before, but we decided it would be cool to talk about temples. It was pretty cool and a successful family home evening. They seemed really interested and I'm excited for them in the future. Family Home Evening is always fun, I really love Filipino games. I'll teach you some in a couple of years. You'll love them. It was good though. Tuesday was pretty good too. We were really busy because Elder Eror had to give a Baptismal Interview for the sisters, and we were trying out to get the zone leaders to our area to do an interview too before all the leaders went to Iloilo for training, but they weren't able to come down on Tuesday, so I was worried about getting the interview all week, but everything worked out on time. A cool experience with Elder Eror, the very first day he was here we visited some recent converts and Elder Eror was talking to them about missionary work. As we talked with them, Investigators just popped into my head that these 2 young men would be perfect fellowshippers for. I was a little mad at myself for not thinking about them sooner. But on Tuesday, one of these young men came and worked with us, also his cousin too to this girl who has been a long time investigator. She always does her reading and prayers but says she still hasn't received an answer she says. She's gone to church a couple times but is busy a lot. It's hard because we really are trying to help her receive her answer from God. Help her sincerly pray, with sincere desire and real intent. We've given her baptismal dates if she receives an answer by that day, we've tried a lot. But we had this young man and woman come with us and him share how he knew it was true and the other girl is putting in her mission papers right now. So it was pretty cool experience. I think she understand a little better now, so we're still working on her.
So on Wednesday I was just able to work with Brother Toto. With him it's pretty crazy, but it was fun. It was kind of funny because I started working with him around 2pm. (Elder Eror and I did weekly planning in the morning then he left) So after 4-5 teachings he was pretty hungry and he wanted food. So we went to one of those stands where they sell chicken blood, liver, and intestine. And bought like 50 pesos worth of it. (which is like a dollar, but it was a lot.) I actually really like chicken blood right now, and I really like the liver too, the intestine is just okay. Anyway, I don't know if that's bad but recently I always want to by it because it's only like 2 pesos per stick. (They like put pieces on a stick and grill it right in front of you, and then you get to chat with them and try to make appointments, so it's nice, right?) It was a good day though. Actually I noticed I'm a lot better at listening when I work with Elder Eror. Like a lot of times it seems that, at least while I was trained, Elder Tiamzon would just teach for like 45 minutes then give me time at the end to say stuff or I would have to interrupt him to start talking. And just like investigators wouldn't look as me as often or don't realize I understand them. Like a lot of times with Elder Tiamzon I would start talking then they would look at Elder Tiamzon and ask, "He can speak ilonggo?" Then I would be like, "Yo! I'm right here, and yes! I'm speaking Ilonggo right now? Why don't you ask me!?" Except I didn't really say it like that. I mean people just focus on talking to Elder Tiamzon because of course, they were used to him and he's a pinoy. But now, investigators know me a little better, and like they actually talk to me, (and maybe speak simpler than when I'm with Elder Tiamzon or Brother Toto) but it makes it easier for me to listen than when they only aim at my companion or something right? But now they like speak to all of us and I feel like I'm actually a part and a tool in the Lord's hands instead of just being there because my companion needs a companion. But Brother Toto led some lessons and then I led some too. So it was a good day.
Thursday I worked with Brother Bermi and it was pretty cool. Brother Toto and me schedule appointments with most of our investigators on Friday so I was trying to think of good places we could go. I went to one area of a Former Investigator I found in the area book and we ended up teaching him, which was cool. Then Brother Bermi said, "I remember some investigators around here!" (from a while ago) So we went to there houses and taught this one guy. As soon as we went to his house he asked question about if we believe in Hell and he mentioned stuff about the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms. So that was cool. We talked about the spirit world with him and like the states of happiness and state of misery. It was pretty cool because that night I found his teaching record. The address for him just said Cagay (which is big, so it would have been really hard to find him) And he hasn't been taught for 2 years now, but he's had that question on his mind for 2 years, which I thought was cool. At the end of the lesson he asked for our number to text us and asked us what time church was. So it was a cool experience. I'm grateful for being in that place with Brother Bermi at that time. Because if I wasn't working with Brother Bermi or if we hadn't gone to find that other Former Investigator, we wouldn't have found him. It's just really cool how things work out, you know?
Friday was hard because we had lots of appointments, but we had some emergencies and I wasn't able to find anyone to work with, so I worked with the other Elders. It was okay, I tried to tell all the investigators who have cell phones, (like 2 out of 9 of them) that we had to cancel. But I was worried all day about them and just wanted to work in my area because I thought it would have been such a good day. But,sometimes you can't control things since I have to have a companion. We actually went to a house in my area with them because it was on the borders of the two areas, so that was good at least.
Saturday was crazy. Elder Eror and the zone leaders didn't get home until noon, I thought they were getting home in the morning, which is when I scheduled the interview. But not till noon, so I just studied all morning and waited. As soon as the got here I went with our new zone leader, Elder Hadry (really the most hilarious guy I've ever met, I can't really describe him. Like monotone kind of but funny. from Idaho.) So we got the interview then like one of the speakers had cancelled on me so we had 2 hours to find a new speaker, make a program, make sure everyone made it on time. But everything worked out and it was a good experience. The girl who was baptized has had it postponed like 4 times but finally it happened because they've gone to church the past couple of weeks. It was hard because right when they got really into going to church she got chicken pox. So it was rough but she was so excited. She asked me to be the one to baptize her which I thought was really cool. She probably would have asked Elder Tiamzon, but he transferred, so she was stuck with me. I wanted her father to do it who has just started coming back to church and had bishop talk with him but he said they just wanted me to do it. So I did. It was cool for me because it was my first time actually baptizing anyone like myself. My heart was burning and it felt really nami to say those words, "having been commissioned of Jesus Christ." Like the other baptisms we have had I just heard them but they never hit me as hard as hearing them come out of my own mouth. Just how powerful the priesthood is. But again I really loved hearing her testimony and it was cool seeing her family at church and I really love her relationship with her father. He's a really great man and hopefully future church leader. And he really cares about her and his family and really wants for them to grow up in the church and in the gospel, even if there is persecution that comes with it to him. I really like brother, he's a great man for real.
After that we tried to get some appointments but there was a huge rainstorm. I guess not really too big because I got some letters from district mates from the MTC and it sounds like the typhoon hit them huge... but my area is just basically paradise. Anyway, I did get slightly completely wet. But it was a good time. I don't know why I'm writing about it since I get soaked all the time, either from sweat or rain.
That's basically all that has happened in my life. Oh wait! About the pants... nope, none made. Also I was visiting this one members house and his referral (Goelito) with Brother Bermi when he asked me where my turkey was. I then realized it was thanksgiving and we talked about food for a while. Anyway, things eventually led to this, Goelito told me next time I visited them he would cook me some dog. That's tomorrow, I'm kind of excited, I hope it happens! I heard it's pretty good. Elder Eror hasn't had it yet either. So exciting, as long as it's not one of those street dogs. I asked and they said no they buy it in the market. So phew on that. Actually the weird foods and a lot of times my favorites. And I had this delicious mango shake today. (Elder Eror showed me! I don't know how I missed seeing that shake place for 3 months!) That's food. Delicious gid!
Something about the Philippines is it's really hard when they get released from a calling. Sometimes they seem offended or like now they don't need to come to church or whatever. It's tough. Or if they get a calling that seems less significant they are offended or something. I want Dad to know that I remember him in those situations. Because I've always noticed with you no matter what your calling is you always magnify it. And I'm really grateful for that example. Even as a missionary too. It doesn't matter if your a senior, or a district leader or a zone leader or an AP. What is really important is that you work your best at what the Lord asks you to do, and you'll be blessed and people will be blessed though you. At church this sunday I was missing how organized our church was. I was missing my bishop too, tell him I say "hey, how are ya?" Really having a strong ward is a good way to really get missionary work moving! But right now there is so much work to do, so one step at a time and we'll just keep working hard!
Thanks for your prayers and whatnot, your spiddly wiffles. I'm making up words now.
Love you all, hope your thanksgiving was sweet!
Elder Burton
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