Hey Family!!
That's way exciting to hear Michael Shields is home. It's kind of scary too. I wonder what that boy is like now. It's sounds like your road trip was fun too. I'm glad you made it in one piece. Let me know what happens.
This week was way crazy. I don't know where to begin. I guess I'll start by explaining something that was asked to me about in a letter. I guess, imagine that you're just walking down the street and (if you are a man), some forty year old straight guy that you don't know says, "Hey! Where you going you handsome man!?" OR you pass by a different random guy and he says, "Whoa man! Your nose is way tall! OR you walk past someone else you don't know and they say, "Yo! You look like a pig's brother!" Yeah, I know it's kind of weird but it's a daily thing here. I asked a member and asked, "Hey, aren't you kind of mad when people call you a pig?" And he said, "No, I'm kind of fat, so they call me a pig, it's just natural." So that's just the way things are. They don't say things to offend you, if that's the way you are they will just tell you straight up, not to offend you, just to say it.
Things are going great with Elder Penaia! I guess one thing I can say is that I never have a boring day. Like one day we were doing a CSP cutting grass with these swords, like mowing the lawn or something and he kind of lost control and cut a banana tree in half. It was kind of funny. Then he just said, "Yeah! I'm the man!" He says that all the time. "Hey Elder Burton! I'm the man! But sometimes I'm the man too. I just got to do something nice.
Teaching with him is way fun too. I don't know, I just never know what to expect him to say. Like yesterday we were teaching the word of wisdom to one investigator. We talked to him about it and then Elder Penaia decided to share an experience. I'll tell that story to you now. It's way good, maybe if you ever teach the word of wisdom in Sunday School or something you can share this. Anyway, so in Elder Penaia's village in Samoa, there was one guy who would always walk around the market. This guy had a huge afro. And he looked way gwapo with his afro; like it was way tall, way poofy. He wanted to be the MAN in the market. Anyway, one day the guy got way drunk, and fell asleep in the market. During the night someone came by and burned the guys hair! So the next day the guy had no hair...he wasn't the man anymore... "So I know Brother, that you will be blessed if you live the word of wisdom.."
I also discovered one other cool secret. Today I was walking down the street feeling a little down. I saw some like 5 year old kids and was like, "Hey! Dance for us!" or something like that. Anyway, all these kids just started dancing for us. It was way sweet. They are pretty good too. It cheered me up. That's one thing they teach all the kids at school here, how to dance.
Anyway, the worst thing that happened this week is we weren't able to see the Delacruz Family. It was really hard. I'm not sure what happened to them. Hopefully we can still help them progress in the gospel. It's hard because we never got a fellowshipper for them. We scheduled with the 1st counselor in our bishopric to work but he didn't show up. His apology, "sorry elders I didn't work. I was way busy playing basketball..." Anyway, Elder Penaia says I need to stop getting so excited about people. He said it's better to not feel excited about people and then get excited later when things happen than to get excited about someone and then just get disappointed. I guess I understand his point. Because so many times you do get way excited. But so many times, especially here, people just don't put their whole heart into knowing, or they get lazy, and they just give up. Then you just get discouraged. But I know I shouldn't. I know to I should have a reason for getting excited. Because I know the converting power of the gospel. I know if they do these things, if they experiment on the word, I see how much the gospel will bless their families. I know that God will help them overcome any obstacles they have. Because this is the path God wants them to take. One of the worst things I hear is when I ask, "Why do you think there are so many churches on the earth and they say, "It depends on the person." But that's not true. It doesn't depend on the person. It depends on our Heavenly Father. He has a plan for us. And I know if a person searches for that plan, God will show them what they need to do. And that's why I get so excited about someone. I was talking to Elder Christensen about it and how my favorite part of missionary work is finding. I love meeting new people and seeing what the gospel can do for their life. Because I know how much it will help them. Even though it will be a sacrifice, or they'll have to make some changes, I know they can do it. I guess that's what it means that the gospel is for everyone, and everyone can know it's true. The prepared person is the one that's willing to sacrifice to come to know their Father in Heaven. And I'll do everything I can to help someone to want that and search for that.
Anyway, we still have one family doing awesome, the Rufino. I love them. Their entire countenance has changed and I really see their faith growing. The only big problem is the Dad's foot. He has arthritis and sometimes it's hard for him to walk to church. I don't really know about arthritis but I know he can do it.
Our converts are still doing way sweet. Yesterday Carlito said the opening prayer in church. It was awesome. He walked up they and he's like, "Hey! I'm going to pray now!" And then he did. He always looks way gwapo. Sister Regina texted us from Hong Kong and said that she loves reading in the Book of Mormon and going to church and is still learning a lot there. Yesterday too Elder Penaia taught the sunday school lesson. It was fun. He'd ask all the investigators questions and they'd answer and he'd be like, "Yeaaahhh, good girl!"
Anyway, that's basically it. I want you all to know I love you more than some insert cheesy line here. Take care,
Love,
Elder Burton
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