19 February 2012

Hey my family!

I'm glad that Jared is not dead. That was a relief to read. My companion subjects all his emails in Ilonggo so I decided to try it too. We had a good week too, but some trials as well.

The Gonzaga's were baptized this week. Which was a really great experience. We had some trials though. A couple days before the baptism Big Jimmy drank a little bit with some friends, so we told him he'd have to wait. After praying and talking with our leaders we decided to carry on with the baptism for Maryjane and Jimjin. The baptism was a really good experience. They were way ready and their testimony is strong. Jimjin said she only went to church before for KBL - Kasal, bunyag, lubong (marriage, baptism, and funerals) but now she has a strong testimony of the Sabbath day. She used to tell her clients (she works at a insurance) that she could meet on Sundays, because that is the only time she has time. But now she says, "any day but sunday, I'm busy that day!" She said she had a lot of trials too before her baptism. Someone at work told her not to be baptized because they said mormons are a colt, they don't believe in Jesus Christ. Jimjin just told him, "The name of the church is the Church of Jesus Christ." Then she said he just got quiet. Later when our first counselor gave his welcoming remarks he said, "That man who told you that doesn't know a single doctrine of this church. He doesn't know anything. If he did, he wouldn't have said that." Which is true. If people gave it a chance, listened, then ask God if it's true; that's all it takes, then they'll know. Maryjane shared a strong testimony too. She knows this church is true, and nothing will stop her from going astray. Afterwards our branch mission leader, Edward Leida (whose getting married in june - I told him i'd write you that. hehe), said to us that he didn't really know that they had such a strong testimony, and they are like classic leaders of the church. (they should have a strong testimony, they've been going to church for 3 months.)

Anyway, that's not all. At the baptism, we felt an impression and I asked Edward if Jimmy could say the closing prayer. He did and it was one of the most powerful prayers I've heard him say, even though it was in front of everyone. He pleaded with the Lord that he would be able to escape temptation and be ready to follow his family and be baptized in the next coming weeks. After he prayed, Edward just came up to us and asked, "when is his baptism?" Anyway, Jimmy just has a new fire inside of him to prepare to be baptized. Even though it wasn't the picture perfect baptism I felt it was what was needed for him to be stronger than ever. I noticed a big change in him when he came to church too, and he's way excited. He'll make it. And the most important thing is next year as a family they will be ready to go to the temple all together. I love that family. Also, big Jimmy, he was wearing these really sick glasses in church, and I turned to him and said, Hey, nice glasses, and then he just looked at me and did the eyebrow thing. It was sweet! Jimmy does the eyebrow thing!

Besides that everything is just on fire here. People are just progressing like crazy, and showing so much faith to God. Sister Saling Sallano, for example. She fasted and prayed to know if these things were true. We hadn't even taught her about fasting. She said when she prayed she saw a light, and just knew that everything we were sharing is true. She also lives kind of far away from the church, and isn't that rich, and said she might not be able to go to church. But we taught her about faith, and told her there is always a way to keep the commandments. That afternoon, she went out and found the money she needed, and made it to church on Sunday. She's doing really well!!

We also have another investigator named Roxanne Gange. She'll be baptized this saturday! In just 2 months, I've seen the biggest change ever in this girl. It amazes me that only teaching her for maybe 2 hours a week, so much change can happen in a person. But that just testifies that this is the Lord's work. There is so many things that he does behind the things and so many things we don't really see happen as missionaries. She went from not believing in God or that he loves her and now she's happier than I've ever seen her. She basically testified to us this week that she knows this is true and that she is ready for baptism. Sometimes she worries a lot about her sins in the past but she has now truly repented and she just needs to forgive herself. I'm excited for her. She's received a witness from the spirit that this is right. And I don't think she'll ever go astray.

We've been also teaching the house help of the Dyers. She's a way nice lady but we're trying to help her gain a true answer through the Holy Ghost that this is true. She really likes us but we want to make sure she also does everything for the right reason. But we saw a big change in her this week too. I think it happened last week when she went to church. Nanay Bico (the member who just quit her job to be able to go to church) is one of her good friends and talked to her about how she felt. Lolita told her she hasn't really felt anything. Nanay Bico explained to her how she just has to ask with a sincere heart and she'd know it was true. Anyway, when we taught Lolita we planned to talk to her about that, but it turns out she had prayed and asked, and knew it was true because of a dream. She dreamed she was walking down a rice field and got to a crossroads, and she had some rice she wanted to plant. On the left side she could plant her rice but if she did, she knew it would die because a lot of people walk on that path, but if she planted of the right side she saw their was lots of space and she decided to choose the right and plant her rice there because she knew it would live. At the point she was asking us what it meant and we were pondering and then Elder Dyer asked us to explain what she just said. But anyway, he told us he had been pondering that morning and thought something that she needed to understand was that there was only 1 true path leading to life. There's only one way. So we shared 3 Nephi 27 with her and I really see her testimony growing. She's going to be a strong member. She was participating like crazy in Gospel Principles class.

We also have started teaching a ton of the Gonzaga relatives. One is a family I'm really excited about, Lusia and Jerry. Elder Farnsworth and I, on splits, taught them and they actually did what we told them and wrote down a ton of questions they had while they read. It was a sweet lesson. All the questions they had can be answered through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Our gospel pawns all. I'm grateful for it. We have the answers that some have been looking for their whole lives. How selfish would we be not to share it.

We just had a really great week. All our converts and less actives and a ton of investigators came to church. We are way excited. Bong and Julie Vee and doing sweet. Hopefully next week we can get them to the temple too. This work is just too sweet. Even though we have times of frustrations its okay. It's worth it. Because this is the Lord's work. And nothing can stop it from progressing. I wish you all well in Colorado.

Love ya'll

Elder Burton

p.s. when is class registration?