25 December 2011

Malipayong Paskua!

Heyy! I'm excited to talk to you all. I don't know if you know but yesterday/today is Christmas. Anyway, it was a sweet week this week for us. We actually got a ton of work done and were really blessed in having people to teach (also, in meal appointments :D)

One of the biggest miracles we had this Christmas was with this less-active we've been working with. I guess a couple months ago when she was baptized she decided to not tell her family about it... so she was having a couple problems at home. So she hadn't been to church for a couple weeks and was having a hard time with her mom. Anyway, we talked to them mom last Tuesday and actually got to share with her and miracle, both the mom and the daughter came to church! It was a really great blessing!

Anyway, Elder Collins and I found our good luck charm. His name is Eric Manabat. He's the ward clerk but when we work with him we have like the best lessons ever. Sometimes he says things a little awkward, but I love working with him. For example, we were teaching this new investigator we found and told him a little about what we do. The investigator told us, "I've been in my religion a long time, so what happens if.." Then Eric finished, "If you change religions? No problem!! Mas nami gani! It's way better!" It was just kind of bold and funny the way he said it. But it allowed Elder Collins and I to testify of why; not just to increase membership of the church, but to help people inherit the kingdom of heaven (pmgch1). Anyway, with him we worked in this area called Motorpool. That's where the Gonzaga family lives and that area is just on fire. We had like a ton lessons there, next door neighbors, that were all amazing.

The first guy is Noriel. He's way sweet. He had a ton of questions. But luckily, because the fulness of the gospel has been restored, we have answers. He said things like, everyone says Adam and Eve are no good, but it seems like if they didn't eat the fruit, we wouldn't even be here on the earth. or, you have to believe in Christ to be saved right? but what about all those people who never have a chance to hear about him, or all the children who never get old enough to learn about him. I was just grateful during the lesson that the Lord has answered these questions for us and provided a way for all of us to return to him.

After that we visited a Sister named Belma, we thought she wasn't even progressing too much, but boy were we surprised during that lesson. We had just given her a Book of Mormon and turns out she read like 50 pages of it (I have no idea how this keeps happening. Everyones reading! It's sweet. Usually they don't. It just goes to show if someone will just test out God's word, God will show them its true, and they'll progress) Anyway, we asked her from her reading, what lessons had she been learning from the Book of Mormon. She told us the main thing is that we always have to be ready to enter into the presence of God. And then she related it to herself, she said, elders, i've been telling you I can't go to church because I'm busy, or I will only read if I have time. But these excuses won't really work with God. I have to be ready. It was amazing man. I've never seen someone get so much out of their reading. Anyway, we committed her to be baptized and she accepted. I'm way excited for her.

Anyway, besides that, the works moving forward. It's special sharing this message during this Christmas season, and trying to help others understand the meaning of Christmas. It was special when people told us, "ah, we're poor, we won't be having a christmas." And then when we were able to share with them and understand the greatest gift God has offered each of us. The gift that was made possible through Christ being born, and doing what he did. And I'm so grateful for that this season. My life seems to be going too good right now. We have sweet investigators, and the Lord is blessing us so much. Of course we still have trials, but we get through them. Missions aren't easy, but you're so busy on your mission you have no time to think about that. All you have time to think about is others and what more can we do to help and be the instruments God wants us to be.

Anyway, I love you. Talk to you soon.
Elder Burton