9 January 2011

Hey Family!

This week has been tight. Well, I guess, yes, the language is still Ilonggo. It's a little different from Capiznon in Roxas, but a pretty easy change. All I've really noticed is I can't use the word 'yanda' for today or now, now I have to use 'subong' and then I always called kids in Roxas 'puya' for like 'youngster' but now I just have to use a different word. So it's fun, but it seems pretty easy to remember and it seems easier to understand people here. It was weird because we actually went tracting and I had to ring a doorbell in this richer neighborhood! It was fun. We ended up teaching the person their and she said she liked what we were doing and she said she guessed we could come back but we should probably go do this is the poorer houses with the people who don't know Christ. But the next day we returned and taught her the Restoration. She seemed really surprised. I thought she was just expecting us to show up and share some scriptures about Jesus. I really understand why that is our unique message to the world and it seemed to really touch her heart and surprise her. It definitely didn't seem what she was expecting when we first talked to her but I felt excited and happy with this additional witness that our church, that God himself, really has something more to offer to the world and through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we can overcome everything and become happier than we can even imagine through following the principles that Jesus Christ taught.


It's been pretty hard for me lately since I became a senior and learning a new area but it's actually adjusting really well. It's cool to be able to teach with my own style and be able to learn from Elder Jenkins and together teach these people. I guess sometimes it's hard because sometimes I feel when I make mistakes or I feel maybe I'm not doing as good as Elder Jenkins' last companion, but that's really not what it's about. It's about just working your hardest and teaching with the spirit. Even though all missionaries are different with their teaching styles, their language skills, and just their personalities, we are all where we are, and who we are with, for a reason. And I know here in Molo is right where God wants me, and I will do my best to continue his work here. Even though I'm tired!


This week we also have had a lot of members work with us. One of them is Dave. He's a sweet guy. He has been a member around 6 months now and I see how his life has really changed through this gospel, and it was fun to work with him. We also worked with his cousin, I think, whose name is Bonbon. Bonbon is a hilarious, like 14 or 15 year old kid. He cracked me up but they were also really hard workers and I really appreciated their testimonies and clarity that gave to investigators.


One of the hardest things about being a missionary is seeing a person come to know for themselves the truthfulness of our message and of the Book of Mormon and that their really is a living prophet here on the earth right now but then the person is so stuck in their old traditions or so unwilling to change that they just deny the truth they were taught. Yesterday, we were teaching this old man who seemed to think he had it all figured out. He told us that he believed the Book of Mormon was true and we started teaching him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we taught and got into baptism he told us how he thought all churches were the same, but just had a different name. He was telling us some weird stuff and at first we tried to go back to Christ's church here on earth, then Joseph Smith, and through revelation directly from God we know that this is the one Church on the earth that contains the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and exactly what we must do to return to him. After that he still wouldn't change his mind that all churches were the same. Then we tried an approach with using some bible verses to maybe help him, about one faith, one lord, one baptism. And in Ephesians 2:20 about the structure of Christ's church, and then like in Acts 19 about people being baptized again because they weren't the first time correctly and didn't receive the holy Ghost. But he was still stuck so much on his traditions and the traditions of his fathers. I asked him if he knew this was exactly what God wanted him to do, would he follow Christ's example and be baptized into the church. And he wasn't. He just wasn't willing to change. But believe or not, even though it killed me to see that man do that, it strengthened my testimony to know that we do have a living prophet on this earth, who tells us the fulness of Christ's doctrine. And even though there are so many churches on this earth, God provided us with a way to find the true one, we just need to be willing to change for Christ. And I hope and pray that one day, that man will realized that God gave us these gifts, like the Book of Mormon and a living Prophet, for us, and we need to use them in our lives. If we don't, we'll never know the way to return and live with our father in Heaven.


Even with those things happening, I am so happy to be here. There are many times in my mission we talk to someone on the street or teach them 1 lesson and never are able to find them or teach them again, but I hope and pray we were able to at least plant a seed in their hearts so one day they will accept the gospel and realize their desire to accept the blessings of the gospel. I know the people who are willing, who have that right attitude that we have found or taught this week, are the ones prepared by the Lord to receive us, even if they didn't know before they needed this, somehow, the Lord has prepared them to receive us. As missionaries, we just have to do what we are asked, and the Lord will provide a way. Even though I see many people come and go, it's those times when you see the people really change and come unto Christ and you see the real changes in their lives. Despite their circumstances, despite the challenges of life, and despite how busy they are, you can see they are really, truly happy because of this gospel and that makes all the difference.


I want to tell more about the guy I told you about last week, Gregg. His life has truly changed through this gospel, and I'm so excited I got to know him and interact with him. It was the spirit that changed this guys life. It was the efforts of members, and friends who cared about him. At first he wasn't even interested at all in the church, like a couple years ago his friend invited him to church and he always wouldn't go. That friend is in a different ward now and is reporting to the Manila MTC this month. When he heard Gregg finally started going to church he just burst into tears out of joy, and he's going to be the one to baptize Gregg this Saturday. It's so sweet. That kid didn't know the seed he was planting when we was inviting Gregg to church each week, but now Gregg's life really has changed through the gospel at least 3 years after that. You never know who is prepared by the Lord or what seeds you are planting, even if it's just through your example, or your simple testimony. Just keep working hard and doing your best, and everything else will follow. I have a testimony of that.


Sounds like you had fun at Disney Land! I didn't even know you were planning a trip to California. That's cool stuff. I'll write a letter today and put it in the mail for the ward. I have noticed missionaries have done it for their home wards here. Mostly they just beg members to write them letters. :P


And also, happy birthday to Rob (I'll shoot you a letter). The big 22 right? That's crazy he's an oldie! Everyone here we meet asks how old I am and before they guess they say, 14 right? I say, "no, i am actually only 12. And this is Elder Jenkins, my dad." Just kidding, but it's kind of sabad. But what is more sabad is I probably here people tell me my nose is big like 10-20 times a day. I calculated it and I'll at least hear that,(taas ang imo nga ilong!) more than 10,000 times throughout my mission. I've asked other missionaries if people, kids and adults, say their nose is big and they always tell me they never hear that. I guess that's why I'm a special one. Actually they all just think big noses are really nice and they want it! So for Jared, I decided I'm changing my most attractive feature from my socks into my nose. ' >'


All right, that's it! I forgot I'm suppose to send some pictures to you I'll try to remember next week.
I love you all and see you soon! (If you send me pictures)
Elder Burton!