12 June 2011

Hey Family,

I had a way good week this week! As I should, since I'm a missionary. But mom, I heard your pregnant? Also, of bigger news, I heard Jared can grow a chin strap? Is that true? I'm way jealous. Just keep doing whatever tickles your fancy though.

Anyway, Monday was a sweet day. The pizza was delicious, but less than I thought, but I enjoyed it. After that we just bought food and played basketball. Our members always come late since it's so hot at like 5. And then we leave at 5:15. So, Elder Quinantoto and I had some fun playing 1 on 1.

At night we had a good FHE with the Villanueve Family. A recent convert named Angelyn came and brought her friend, so we had a good time. Before we helped Sister Villanueve cook some Inubaran. It's pretty good but complicated. You have to like make coconut milk and mash up a banana heart. It was pretty delicious. We also shared with them about missionary work and committed them to give us some referrals!

Anyway, I guess I'll get down to business and say the week was great because Noel Arieta was baptized and confirmed a member of the church. We met with him a couple of times with him this week and they were great. I don't know if I told you, but Noel had been looking for a job the past couple of weeks. He found one, but during their conversation Noel told them he wouldn't work on Sundays. He was concerned with us because he didn't get the job, but I was grateful Noel showed his faith in God first and I'm sure God will bless him for that. Later that week we met with Noel to get him all ready for his interview and especially ready to bear his testimony at his baptism. Anyway, he was way nervous to do that. We talked about how we all have weaknesses with him, and how God will make them strong for our good and for others.

I didn't know I'd have to apply that lesson to myself again this week. Saturday morning before studies President Pagaduan gave me a call and asked me to be a District Leader... I'm kind of nervous about it. I've just really looked up to my leaders and never really saw myself as one. I'm not like the most talented missionary but I guess it's okay. I'll just try my best I guess. And God will help me. We watched the Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration before the baptism and it helped me when Joseph said, "The Lord calls us for our weaknesses, but he qualifies us for His work." I think he will, and I'll grow a lot through this. gaa, I'm nervous though.

Anyway, the baptism went smoothly. Sister Arieta, who just came back to church after 20 years of inactivity is way good. Anyway, we asked her to prepare a talk and she had memorized the whole thing. She recited like 5 scriptures from her memory in her talk, it was way cool. She's like one of the strongest members ever, she's already in Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. Because of her, I don't really have to be too nervous about Noel falling away, but, I especially don't, because he knows it's true, and he's felt the blessings in his life. At his baptism afterward he was way too shy to bear his testimony. But Elder Quinantoto and I sang a special musical number. We didn't do too well... hehe.. but afterwards Noel was able to stand and bear his testimony. It was awesome. Afterwards our Ward Mission Leader and Bishop both talked and told Noel at their baptisms they were too shy too to bear their testimonies so they just didn't. I was way proud of Noel for his courage and trust in the Lord. On Sunday he received the priesthood and was confirmed a member of the church (not necessarily in that order). I'm way excited!

Oh yeah, I'll tell you about my birthday. It was a pretty fun day. I had a blast. We did some tracting and found a new husband and wife. They were nice, I hope we get them progressing. I always get way excited when we find because I see how much the gospel can bless them and what these people can become. But it's hard seeing them just not keeping commitments and stuff because they won't know unless they do it! Anyway, then we saw Noel again, and after that it started raining like crazy. So we got back to the main highway road (the one from Kalibo to Iloilo) and it was kind of flooded, so we were like calf-deep in water I guess. We kind of had fun walking to our next place though because when buses would drive past we'd run over and stand in the flood and crouch down and let the truck send a huge wave of water at us. Then we'd hold our umbrella out to protect us. It was kind of fun.. lol.. we then decided to do it when a bicycle guy rode past us. He thought it was funny. Anyway, then we went to this one family that is a long time Part-member. We read with them from the Book of Mormon and when we left there was a flood. Elder Quinantoto was messing around again and we had to jump over this flooded area. He jumped over and was standing in the way but told me to jump and he'd catch me! I knew he was joking but I jumped anyway... and he didn't expect it. But he ended up blocking me landin' and I got soaked boy. So, I was cold. But we had a good meal of rotisserie chicken and cheese ice cream for dinner.

Anyway, I think I told you about Carlito Nebor before. He's like my favorite investigator. We have to like yell into his ear because he's way deaf. He's sweet though! I love him. We were teaching him the restoration and he was just way excited about it! He was saying he really wants to know. So I told him if he wants to know it's true he has to pray and ask God! (we were like yelling this). He said, "Okay! I'll do it right now!" And he just bowed down his head and prayed and asked! hahah! It was awesome. He's the kind of person I see and talk too and the entire time I just can't stop smiling. Like Roberto Andrada from my first area. It was awesome. He actually has really strong faith and he really is ready for the gospel. I love him. We gave him a date for next month to be baptized so he's ready. We also gave this other PM family a date too, Sister Sarita to be baptized, and she accepted too. I'm way excited! The work is really progressing here.

On Sunday I had a chance to go on splits with a returned missionary, Brother Jayson. I really learned a lot from him, especially in helping people to resolve their concerns. We have this one Sister we've been working with. We've been having a hard time with her. I was kind of dying because I knew the gospel would really bless her family, but she said she tried praying once if it was true, and she didn't get an answer. And she wouldn't try praying again. I tried to figure out why she wouldn't have gotten and answer. She had faith right, she had real intent, she had a desire to know. So why no answer? She told us she wasn't sure if God answers prayers, so I thought it might have been faith. But I talked to her about her question and answer and she told me she thought as an answer her interest would have continued, but she says she just doesn't feel interested anymore to listen to our message, but now she feels more excited to go to her church, and she took that as her answer. I was kind of stuck, I didn't know what to say. But Brother Jayson decided to go back to the source. She tried praying once and no answer, so she didn't want to pray again. He asked her straight off about the question she asked, and it was right. It was a fair question. After that he asked her what she did after her prayer. And she said she just went to sleep. So Brother Jayson told her maybe God was trying to answer, but you needed to listen. That's how simple the concern was. I really learned a lesson of really relying on the spirit to resolve concerns. On the surface I thought it was just faith, but the concern went so much deeper, but with a few simple questions, going back to the source, the spirit helped her know. So she changed, instead of saying, "I don't think I'll pray again because I don't have a desire to know." She said, "I'll try it again, and I'll really listen for the spirit to tell me." I really learned a lot. I really know God knows each of us and what we need, and he'll help us to help his children come unto him.

Well, that's about it! I love you all, I'm excited to see what happens, because transfer announcements are tomorrow and transfers are on Friday, and we don't know what is happening since District Meeting is on Tuesday! Take care, and I think Aunt Kristen was joking about you having a baby mom. But if you do have one, you can name him, Elder Burton, :D, jsut kidding.

Dahan
Palangga ko kamo!
Elder Burtron