4 April 2011

Hey!
To tell you the truth, I'm not too surprised about your weather you told me about. But that's fun. I was also thinking when you were telling me about your students. I understand about your sadness not seeing them succeed. Even when they know they need to do it and you know they can do it, all you can do is try to influence them and invite them to do what they need to do. Just like missionary work eh? Just invite them to come to Christ, to recognize why it's important and then to just to do it! It's hard when you know people they know they need to, and then they don't do it. That's cool about Rob working at Apple Bees. What else is he up to? And the rest of you, what is you up to?


So to tell you the truth, this work was just as good as the last. There were a couple difficulties, but we pulled out a really good week. We started on Monday with teaching John and Mercy Patria, they are way good. We watched the Restoration Video and at the end they were asking what Joseph was doing to his father at the end (baptism) anyway. We talked about baptism with them and I think they have a desire to be baptized. It will be cool if we can get them. I'm sure that in the future they will become strong active members of the church. They have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, they love it when we teach them, like at least 12 of our ward missionaries have visited with them, so they have plenty of friends, and they just seem ready. We just need them at Church. John is working right now so it's taking a while for him to be able to get the day off. Hopefully eventually in the future things work out. Just keep him in your prayers.


Tuesday was a rough day for us. We had a couple teachings and they were kind of hard. One was really good with this lady named Joessa that we met a couple weeks ago. When we first met her I was talking to her and she was saying it was really good what we were doing and she was talking about her family and how she really wants good things for her kids. One is 11 and she says he's still a good kid, but she's worried about how to help him stay good and not get a ton of vices and stuff. It was way cool because that's exactly what the gospel will do for her. She's way cool I really like her. I'm excited with what will happen to her. Around 5pm Elder Ball was sick. He's gone to the hospital every week of his mission so far. He's a good worker. So we tried to find a member to work with me so we could finish up the appointments but no luck. So we stopped by and canceled and went home.


That was a little hard for me because I realized I still haven't missed a day of work my entire mission! I've been a little sick, and have had days where I've just felt way bad, but I've still been good enough to work. I guess we still worked most of the day though. Anyway, I talked to some other Elders the other day and a lot of them are younger than me in the mission, but they've still missed work because they have been sick. I felt way grateful that I've never been to sick before to work and remembered the promise the Lord gave to me through President Muirhead that my health would be protected like a shield while I was on my mission and I felt way blessed. Anyway, we borrowed a cell phone from our neighbor so we could call Sister Pagaduan and know what we should do. So we did that and on Wednesday Elder McClellan and Elder Ball went to the hospital and I got to work with Thor Elizan, a RM from Quezon City (he got back in January). He's way good. That day might have been one of my favorite days of my mission so far. Though I felt bad making Elder McClellan be the one who had to watch him but he didn't mind to much. There was a pizza place they went to after the hospital that was next to the hospital and I was jealous about that. But I would have been more jealous missing working because our day was sweet!



So me and Thor went out and for the first couple of appointments the Young Woman's President, Shane, was with us. We visited the Delacruz Family first. I really wanted to be able to teach the whole family this time so we really pushed it and we told them we could teach them while we put meat on a stick so they could all listen. It ended up being a way cool experience. I was wondering what we should teach them because what we planned probably wouldn't be best for that situation. I talked to Thor and we just decided to talk to them and follow where the spirit guides us, so that's what we did, with them all. It was a way sweet lesson. It was pretty short overall, but it was way powerful. We talked to them about normal stuff. As slowly it lead into the gospel, about families, and was way cool. Eventually we were talking about prayer and how God helps us in our lives and the mom mentioned before they always had some problems but then when we started teaching her kids everything just became easier for them. I was way grateful when I heard that and knew that God was blessing their lives and there really is more to this work. God is doing so much for these people even when were not there, and I know there is people continuously being prepared by God.


After that we taught a couple of good lessons. We taught a man named Jerry Tuazon. He's been a little hard because he's never wanted to pray about the Book of Mormon, because he says he already knows its true. But we knew that's not enough and we need a spiritual witness through the Holy Ghost to gain a sure knowledge so we all talked to him and eventually we just had him pray right there in front of all of us. It was cool and just a nice lesson over all.


Then we taught a lady named Resurrection. We found her a while back trackting (yeah how do you spell that?). Anyway, I might of told you about that then but we were sharing with someone else and we asked if we could start with a prayer and she walked in and said she needed prayer because her husband just died a couple of days earlier. So we did and talked to her about the Plan of Salvation. So today, a couple weeks later, we were finally able to teach about the Book of Mormon. She only lets us teach her 5 to 10 minute lessons. But we taught it in a different way I ever had before and just focused on way different things. I'm not sure why, but she basically committed herself to read the Book of Mormon every day. IT was sweet!


After that we taught John Tipon again. He's doing way good we just need him to continue. I love that guy man. He's way sweet and on Wednesday we taught him the Law of Chastity which was awkward but a good lesson. He also committed to come to church and just seems like all his concerns are slowly falling away because he's starting to read from the Book of Mormon on his own. I know the Book of Mormon has power in it and as people show their faith to God through reading and doing, God will strengthen us and raise us up out of everything.


After that we taught Holy Grace Po. Last week we gave her a date for April 30 and after talking to them that lesson, I really felt her sincerity and her desire to become ready for that date. I felt a burning in my heart that she really will be ready and I'm excited to see that happen. She came to church again on Sunday with her cousin and her sister, who we've been teaching too. (Queen2x, and AJ)


After that Thor and I went to Mark and Mark and Arlene and Third Panelo, a new family we found last week. We taught them on Saturday last week and they went to church the next day. They seem way prepared and I think they could be strong members of the church one day. They really understood the great apostasy and why God needed to call a prophet again. Before we even taught Mike asked us, hey, I have some questions. Who is Joseph Smith, and why is he important? and What is the Book of Mormon, can you give us a background of what is in it? It was way cool. They listened intently and I felt that the spirit was bearing witness to them.


Anyway, wednesday was tight, and we didn't get "punted" at all all day. I was way happy and excited. Thursday wasn't as good, because Elder Ball needed 2 days of rest and then my member who was going to work with me again was sick too! So I dragged him to one appointment that was like our main important one with our Progressing investigator then we had to go home. But we did some weekly planning and just prepared some stuff.


Friday was good! It was Elder McClellan's birthday! WE had a great day. Elder Ball and I made mango float for Elder McClellan and it was delicious. And really easy too. I'll probably make it again. Elder McClellan is really getting sagad gid at Ilonggo and speaking out. I remember I was still way quiet my first transfers. It's funny now because everyone says I'm way talkative which is funny because I used to be way quiet in like High School. Anyway, I try to make my companions talk a ton and they do a great job. It's working out pretty well. I have one funny thing I want to tell you about Elder McClellan. He's a little rebellious and really loves cats. He has a picture of a cat on his desk. A couple weeks ago, we were walking down the street and I looked next to me and E. McClellan was gone! I looked around and a couple seconds I saw him a couple feet behind me with a huge smile on his face. I looked in his hands and he was holding a baby cat! Anyway, he talked to me and said we should stop by the apartment and drop it off. And I was like, no, cat's are really allowed. You should put that back wherever you got it. But he's told me he'd just give it to an investigator because they have cats. I ended up forgiving him in the long run because he told the investigators (the Delacruz) to name the cat Elder Burton. So there's another thing named after me. And another cat story with Elder McClellan is we were teaching John Tipon on Saturday. Elder McClellan was bearing his testimony when a cat walked by and Elder McClellan just picked up the cat and started petting it. John thought that was weird and just started laughing, it was ridiculous. And then on Sunday we were on splits. I was with Dave Ramos (that was sweet) and Elder McClellan and Elder Ball were with some members in the other area. Anyway, I guess Elder McClellan found a cat and picked it up and just kept walking and the member, Nenita, was like, 'Elder, I don't think your allowed to have pets.' Then Elder Ball confirmed it and Elder McClellan was like oh yeah. And he put it down. Elder McClellan told me that I'd have to keep watching him. haha. THis is ridiculous.


Anyway, Sunday was awesome again. A ton of investigators came. Sister Sanz came again too. She's been LA for like 15 years but she's gone 3 weeks in a row now and she's being a strong member now and I think her example will really help that area. I'm already seeing the changes happening there! It was sweet. The AP, Elder Adams was telling me that our ward is the talk of the mission and President Pagaduan is way excited about Molo 2. The work is taking off like crazy in our ward. It's insane. There is barely room to sit in sacrament meeting. And all that is doing is making the ward even more excited to do missionary work. Yesterday was sweet. Like every single ward missionary worked. I had 3 members with me. Elder McClellan and Elder Ball had 3 with them. Then a ton worked with Elder Adams and Gowey too! It was insane! I had a great day. Dave and I taught like 6 lessons together and weren't really punted. The lessons were way powerful too and Dave is way excited to share. I love working with Dave, he was just baptized last year and he really changed his life. His testimony was way powerful for some of our investigators. Especially I feel for Sister Holy Grace. I'm way excited. This work is sweet. It was just a great day. I'm excited for what happens next week.
Especially with General Conference coming up. Dave and Nenita and Geneva and them have already arranged with like 7 of our investigators to go with them to general conference. It's going to be sweet!!!


Well, I love you all,
Elder Burton


P.S. Hey I forgot the number to my credit card :0
Also I ordered some new scriptures today online compact ones. It cost me about 50 bucks. I still had from my reimbursed money from flying plane luggage quan.
Also, I love you. Keep telling me whats going down.