1 Jan 2012

Hey Family!

I'm glad you enjoyed the package. I did get yours this week. It was very timely. Because all my socks hadn't quite dried yet since the weather has been rainy so it was nice to have some dry socks. I gave half of them to my companion since every single pair of his socks have huge holes in them. Also, everyone in my apartment enjoyed the food. When we ate that Milka Bar all together all of us couldn't believe our mouths. So thanks Grandma. For new years (we had to go home early at around 5 so we don't die) we cooked the macaroni and cheese and Elder Farnz made mashed potatoes. It was good man. And also Elder Collins and I have been enjoying the toys from the Krugers. I've tricked a couple people with the nail in the finger but the whooper cushion is a little big to get anyone. But I put it under Elder Vennard's mattress last night so we'll see if that worked.

Anyway, this week went really well for us. We got to visit the Gonzaga Family and luckily Edward our Branch Mission Leader came with us. The disappointing thing was Bro. Jim was a little drunk, but we decided to share with him anyway, about the Word of Wisdom and commit them to live it. Anyway, since it was new years our church on sunday was in the afternoon so in the morning a couple days after that lesson we went to the Gonzaga's house. They have a little sitting area outside of their house and sitting there we saw a bunch of guys drinking so Elder Collins and I were way worried. But here's the miracle. Jim had shut himself inside all night away from that because he knew he had to go to church this Sunday and knew he shouldn't drink. So all those people drinking were just his brothers/brother-in-laws. It was way cool. I'm so excited about this family. They got to church about a half hour early yesterday and they are progressing really well. I'm so grateful God has led us to this family. They are taking some work but I believe they were really ready to hear the gospel. It's kind of funny too because they have two nephew/niece (Daboy and Xavier) who have been coming with them to church because they don't have parents but their grandparents took them to Bacolod for Christmas. When they were told about their vacation they asked, "But how are we going to go to church?" It was just way sweet. The whole family is loving church.

We found a guy this week named Orig. Because his parents thought he was an original. It reminded me when we taught this girl named Prema because she was born prematurely. There is also a member in Nueva Valencia named Rainfall Potato. When he was a missionary Elder Cook came to his mission and Elder Potato was going to give the closing prayer. Elder Cook made funny to him.

Nelson's (our convert) daughters both work abroad (one in Canada and one in Hong Kong) and they have come home for Christmas so they've been feeding us fat meal appointments. It's been so good. They are way happy. Both of these girls are return missionaries and they told me they never expected that their dad would accept the gospel. I'm way happy that we helped them complete their family. I hope we can help Nelson stay strong and go to the temple next year to be sealed!

Besides that I'm not sure. We're having some struggles this week. Satan is working hard tempting our converts and investigators, but we're trying to help everyone stay strong. I don't know how Satan got into the mind's of the people here that the way to show our gratitude that God has given us another year or the way to celebrate our savior's birth is by drinking, smoking, and gambling, but that's what people like to do. But we'll keep doing our part. It's hard, but we all already know who is going to win. Just keep our new members in your prayers.

We're working with this one family. Melchie was baptized a couple months ago and she's been less-active but has just started coming back to church. Her mom is a non-member and she's finally come to church too. But I wanted to talk about her grandson, Martin. This kid Marcella (melchie's mom) is raising. He's like the funniest kid ever. They have this thing called balinghoy, which is kind of like a potato I guess. They boil it and eat it plain as a snack. Anyway, this kid was eating it and putting way too much food in his mouth. And Marcella was telling him not too do it. He'd end up coughing and chunks would come out and then he would just put more in. Anyway, like the third time he was choking on it and crying (hey, it's funny because he lived) and it was weird to watch the scene. I was a little worried but Melchie and Marcella were just like , I told yo so.. so Martin was like barfing all over the place. Dang, I can't describe it in words. But, this choking, crying child was just hilarious to watch. But a couple days later we went back and Martin (he's like 5 years old, by the way) he just got up on the table and did the weirdest dance I've ever seen. I can't describe Martin. I love that kid though. By the way, the nail-through-the-finger totally freaked that kid out.

There is one kid who we've been worried about. He's been a member for two years now but he's been struggling. He's just getting started down the wrong road. Elder Collins and I saw him on the street Sunday night and he hadn't gone to church that day. He had gone to the beach instead. He's making some other bad decisions right now too but we know he knows better. Anyway, the conversation just ended with Elder Collins saying to him, "Hey! Don't be an idiot!" in english (he's good at english) It was sad, I hope he'll be all right.

That's all that's really happened. But the work moves on. We have some families we're still hoping to get to church. Hopefully it works out. Anyway, I love you all! I'm glad you enjoyed the belts.
Elder Burton