21 August 2011

Hey Family,

That's cool your starting school. Have fun with that. I also heard about Hattie wanting to go on a mission. That's exciting! Hey, thanks a lot to their family for sending a package! I wasn't even expecting it so it was awesome. Even though I feel I have to race my companion to eat all the foods. Anyway, thanks a lot. It really means a lot to me to hear from you all. But that's crazy Hattie will leave in April.. because that means it's before I'll get home!

This week was really good. Last Tuesday the Zone Leaders taught about prayer. And it was kind of funny because we had a lot of experiences with prayer.. but most of them were really weird, unfortunately, or fortunately... I don't know. But we got to teach a lot about it. The first is when we were teaching the Rufino Family. They have an 11 year old son named Fernando. We've been trying to help him pray and lose his shyness for like a month now. It's hard. But he's starting to open up to us. We just have to be awkward around him and he'll be more open. Anyway, he finally prayed and in his prayer he said, "Amay namon sa Langit... Kumusta ka?" (How are you?) So when he said that he kind of was laughing and then the family started laughing and I started laughing. I tried to control it and said, "Hey... That's a good prayer, keep going." But it was hard to stop. And then Carlito, our convert. We went to his house and asked him to pray for us. Every time Carlito prays he like opens his mouth really big and looks towards the heavens and says, "ooooohh.. amay namon sa langit..." and then he bows his head and says a beautiful prayer. Anyway, when he did that I was looking at Elder Penaia's face and Elder Penaia, it was his first time to see Carlito do that. So I saw him do that and it was way hard not to laugh. And then after the lesson I asked Carlito, "Hey. Is it okay if Elder Penaia prays for us?" Then I looked at Elder Penaia and he made this crazy face again.. I looked over at Carlito and he was just saying the closing prayer again. So I closed my eyes real quick. It was kind of crazy. Then our third experience with prayer was with this less-active family. They have one son who is like 6 or 7 and he goes to a catholic school. We always ask who will pray for us and he raises his hand all excited and says, "I will!" And then he does the sign of the cross. Then his dad says, "Hey! Don't do that!" Anyway, this kid is kind of confused I think with all these weird prayers he's learning so his prayer with something like this, "Heavenly Father.. thanks the missionaries are here, thanks dad could drive the jeepney, bless him to drive the jeepney, bless the missionaries.... mama jesus... amen!" So when he said Mama Jesus I kind of just lost it. I keep feeling way bad when I do. But everyone else laughed too. I think he meant to say mama mary. But he was a little confused. Because Jesus isn't our mama. Anyway, we taught about prayer so hopefully he's good now.

I got all your letters this week it sounds like your doing great with your new callings. I was happy to hear all about Jared's experiences. Even with a crazy lady. Like everything you told me Jared will probably help you prepare a lot for your mission. I meet a lot of crazy people here... believe it or not. I can't describe it. Also I'm impressed how your magnifying your calling and helping your quorum become stronger. It's really showing to the Lord that he can trust you with whatever task he gives you. At least in my mission that's one of the most important lessons I've learned. No matter what your called to do. Whether your put in the hardest area or with the hardest companion, no matter what your calling is, whether a 1st assistant or just a home teacher, you just got to lift wherever you stand. And that's what your doing by being an example to your friends, by reaching out to everybody. Let me know how things keep going.

So this week after one lesson I realized that I naturally stood up slowly so I don't hit my head on the ceiling. When I realized I did that, I was way proud of myself. I said to myself; wow, this must mean I'm way old in the mission. I'm so used to doing things like that and way good. I felt really cool and was thinking about that then I turned around to walk out the door and hit my head way hard on the top of the quan. Anyway, it hurt way bad and then the family walked out and said, "Hey! Elder Burton! You're suppose to duck when you walk out of the house.. Aren't you used to that by now?" So then I lost all of my confidence again. I was compelled to be humble. What the holy scrud!

Anyway, this week was pretty good. We had our Zone Conference on Thursday and Stake Conference on Sunday. So we've just been busy nonstop. Then on Thursday and Friday I was kind of sick. I don't want to talk about that though.. but we still got out and worked. The work here is still moving along. The main thing is we have to take care of a lot of people getting married so they can be ready to make the covenant of baptism and go to the temple. It's probably like one of the hardest things I have to take care of on my mission. Figuring out all of the paperwork and stuff. It's kind of hard. But it's still going along.

Anyway, the most exciting news is still with the Rufino. We have a couple things to work out with them but I believe they can do it and become progressing. And then this one brother named Joven. We just have to figure out marriage stuff and help him with his word of wisdom. That one's hard because we only get to see him once a week. But I know the work will keep moving forward. When I take back and think of all the power being given to us and to our investigators it's awesome. How many prayers that are coming our way helps me feel that nothing is impossible. Our investigators might think it's too hard to sacrifice or change but I know they can do it. God's sending his power to them, they just have to reach out and take it. And that's what we're striving to help them do, along with our members; realize the power God has. That through him, we can truly change, we can lose all desire's we have to do evil, but do good continually. That's the worst excuse. We can share with him because he likes to drink! or We can't share with him because he works on Sundays! ... because as people learn the gospel, their desires will change. It has been said that if true doctrine is understood it will change attitude and behavior quicker than the study of behavior will change behavior. So if you teach someone why smoking will destroy them it won't help them as much as if you teach them the atonement of Jesus Christ and help them understand what that really means, that's what will change them, and change us, and help us become our best selves.

Anyway, I guess that's all. I love you all. Take care.
Gud lak!
Love,
Elder Burton