12 February 2012

Gud am my family,

Okay. In my memory with the birds we found a nest of birds. We took the eggs, built a tower out of legos, and fed them baby food, green pea flavor. They lived a couple of days, and some died just from being malnourished maybe, I remember one died because Aaron's brother (you know, the aaron haircut?) sat on it. It popped. It was in that basement of that house that connects to the other house through the basement. Remember that?

I'm not sure about the turtles. I remember getting frogs though. Because that one parking lot by our house had a lot of frogs after in rained and we went their and got a ton of them. I remember we named one of them one-eyed-jack because a car ran him over and he had no eye. I don't remember giving it to a science teacher but we did hold a funeral service for him. But I'm not in the same grade as Rob, so maybe he gave something to his teacher.

Anyway, this week was crazy. It started off with a bang. After we emailed last week we went to Iloilo to shop. (we get to go like once every 2 months to do stuff we can't do in Guimaras, like print pictures, buy shoes, etc.) Anyway, we went to Robinsons, a big mall over there and I picked out the pictures I wanted to print and then we went to eat at Pizza Hut, or in Ilonggo, Heaven. I had to wait an hour for my pictures to print so we ordered and got our food. As soon as our food arrived there was a power-out (brown-out) and the earth started shaking! There was an earthquake!! Everyone in the mall started screaming and running out but Elder Collins, Farnsworth, Martineau, and I just stayed seated. (We couldn't leave, we just got our food.) So we just sat there. It was crazy! After that we just kept eating and eventually it stopped. (pizza...) After some people walked back into the mall and 5 minutes later there was an aftershock, and the same exact people started screaming and ran out over again. (we waited for our bill) As they were screaming and running out, Elder Eror just walked into the store, which was kind of a funny sight. So that was our p-day.

That night we had an FHE with the Dullegues family, who were baptized last Saturday. It was fun, we played some sweet games like Ducky Ducky Moo and Man-rian! I'll explain later. In order to play these games though you need a broom that is only 2 feet long, so I bought one of those for myself. Anyway, they were lots of fun. Filipino's go crazy over games like that. It's way fun.

Anyway, we had a great week this last week. The Gonzaga's are continuing to prepare for their baptism. They are such a good family. I've seen great changes in each of them, especially Brother Jimmy. I can't imagine how hard it would be to go from drinking every day and smoking 40 sticks a day to go down to nothing, but he did it! They have good desires and more than their baptism, I'm more excited to hear about their temple sealing next year!

I told you a little last week about Sister Saling! We taught her a couple times this week and she's doing amazing. We taught a little about the restoration last time and she basically committed herself to be baptized this last week. She committed her kids too. She just felt the spirit so strong and just received so much revelation from going to church once. It's a big testimony builder to me seeing things like this. I really believe that's all it takes. If someone is willing to change and know what God wants, all they have to do is test it out. If they will just read, or pray, or go to church, they'll know the truth of all things, and know what they have to do. It just takes that invitation. It really helps me understand my role so much better as a member of the church. All we have to do is give the people around us a chance to taste of the sweetness of this gospel. When they do, they'll know. Nothing can compare to this gospel. There is nothing better. I'm grateful for the testimony I've gained of it and nothing is ever going to stop me from living it.

We also have had some good experiences with our investigator Roxanne. She's had some trials in her life and really wants to change. She's had a hard time too seeing people around her with easier lives and has had a hard time understanding why that is. But the same thing is happening with her as it has with Sister Saling. Before she told us she doesn't believe God even loves her. Now she's been to church 5 times and is already in 2 Nephi. Just doing these small, simple things are changing her life. That's all it takes; feast upon the word. If we do, we'll have all the strength we need to choose the right and return to our Father in Heaven.

On Thursday we had our Zone Conference and it was a really good experience. The Philippines Area Presidency a couple weeks ago came out with our area goals. And one of them in save the rising generation. One of the things President Pagaduan would like us to do is visit the potential missionaries and encourage them to go on missions and answer questions for them and help them understand better the purpose of missionaries. It was actually really cool. When we practiced I just practiced as myself before my mission and I realized how cool it would be if the missionaries went and visited the youth and talked to them about missions. I don't think I really understood too much about my purpose or what would happen on the mission. And I was a little scared of what happens at the MTC and stuff. So I thought that was really cool and could be really helpful for the pre-missionaries, along with them working with the missionaries before their mission too. I worked with the missionaries once before my mission and didn't say a single word during the lesson, because I didn't know I was suppose to. I think those would be cool things for the missionaries to do if they have time. Jared, you should see if you can work with them once in a while.

After that I worked with Elder Martineau for the night. He's a way good guy and a good missionary. Even though he's new I see how hard he's trying and how he really does love the people. He notices some things that I don't really see anymore. Anyway, we had some good lessons especially with one Sister about faith. She's scared to talk to her boss about getting work off on Sunday. We just talked about how fear was the opposite of faith. I also got to do a baptismal interview, which is one of my favorite things to do as a missionary. Just seeing how excited people are and the changes they have made in their life. I always like to focus on enduring to the end. It was funny because I talked to one of the daughters about enduring to the end and she told me she was never going to fall away. Even when she gets married, she said, she's going to force her husband to go to church... hehe. Anyway, we'll just make sure when she gets married it's in the temple.

The baptism was way good. It was crazy because we had no water at the church. So we started there then rented a jeepney and went to the ocean. It was a way cool experience. They were baptized in the Jordan beach area. More investigators went too than members. Sister Melania, way hilarious investigator, was on the jeepney. One sister on the jeepney mentioned, "the mormons have cool baptisms," or something. And Sister Melania like said loudly, "NOT MORMONS! THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATER-DAY SAINTS!" It was sweet. I wish I could describe Sis. Melania in words. I really can't. But I love her! Also the daughter, Ellen Pearl, when she bore her testimony said, "I'm grateful that I'm a member of this church. Because of it, I don't drink coffee anymore." Then she closed and sat down.

Well, that's mostly it! I love Jordan, it's paradise. The mission is the best two years.
I also love all of you, all of you is paradise.

Halong!
Elder Burton

P.S. I think I get home like the last week of june. Can you just sign up for classes for me? I haven't decided a major, so just sign up for some generals. I think maybe psychology and I would also like a living prophets class. Then my classes will be a surprise!