12 March 2012

Gud am,

I am doing well. Thanks for the emails today. I love hearing about
how things are going back home. I'm glad for your examples to me and
I'm proud of all these things you all do. Ya'll have too many skills.

This week was busy as a bee. We really struggled finding time to
work! We went to Iloilo 6 out of 7 days this week. It's fine but a
lot of travel! We have to cross the ocean! Anyway, we still had a
pretty good week.

On Tuesday we had our zone meeting in the morning and really focused
on the atonement. (thanks for your timing with your letter dad)
Anyway, we read a talk by Richard G. Scott that really helped us
understand better. And we really hope everyone understands the
gravity of our call. Only we have the power to help these people
apply the atonement in their lives and we believe as we all understand
better the atonement our desire will increase, our knowledge will
increase, and our skills will increase as missionaries.

After the meeting we had to go to Iloilo and correlate with our Stake
President, Pres. Torres. It's impossible to describe this man. But I
want him to write a book about his teachings and experiences. He's
just way good and one of the best teachers I've ever met.

Wednesday we had our Zone Leader's Council. Guimaras did the best it
has ever done before and naturally it was really fun to report on
that. What's even better is that every single convert from guimaras
last month came to Stake Conference yesterday, in Iloilo! That takes
faith. Guimaras is on fire!! We're excited for goals we have to keep
the work going. Also, Sister Pagaduan made tacos for lunch. It was
nice to eat something mexican.

Thursday morning we woke up early again to head to Iloilo. This time
for leadership training. The trainings we're really good. Elder
Collins actually gave one on the doctrine of Christ and it was just a
more intense version of our zone meeting. Elder Collins is really a
smart guy. He understands the doctrines of the gospel really well and
can even help me understand them. And if he can get me to understand
them he must be good. His training was really powerful and it put a
lot of things in greater perspective of the gravity of our call as
missionaries. Then Elder Anderson gave a training on leadership and
Elder Pettit talked about exchanges and really going out and helping
our missionaries. They we're both really good. To practice we went
on exchanges. I went out and worked with Elder Verzo, from Bicol, who
is assigned in Molo I. I really like him. He is a good kid. It was
so crazy though working in Molo and it's really easy to teach people
there. I forgot about that. In Guimaras we're lucky if we see
someone walking on the street. While Elder Verzo and I worked I
stopped to talk to someone and turned around and there were like 30
people surrounding me. Then we went to visit a less active sister and
there were some people outside of her house and we invite them to join
in the lesson. I was surprised they had never been taught before
because they were way willing and I didn't even have to convince them.
It was crazy working there, so many people in such a little space. I
forgot a couple times though I have to watch my head.

Friday morning we finished up trainings with Elder Latu and Sister
McDonald. They both did a really good job. Sister McDonald talked
about patterns God has given us for learning and teaching and how that
applies in all aspects of life. It was really good and she wanted
each of us to focus on what things the Lord is trying to teach us and
what we need to change. Then Elder Latu talked about teaching people,
not lessons, and made a cool parable to music and what we got to do to
get our investigators dancing. It was way interesting and the parable
brought some good insights. But afterwards I was grateful for the
chance to go back to Guimaras!

This week Elder Collins started talking to someone by saying, "Holy
toledo that's a huge bottle of ketchup you got there!" Awkward. But,
as promised, the conversation shifted into the gospel.

The Gonzaga's are still going strong. They told us this week that
they feel really empty if they miss a week going to church. They made
a special effort this week and we're able to take 3 jeepney's and a
pumpboat to get to church in Arevalo.

Sister Saling is doing well as well. She is way excited for her
baptism and with everything she is learning in this gospel. Her faith
is becoming unshakeable.

Sister Lolita has been reading like crazy. It's amazing the change
happening in her just from doing that. Even though I've seen it many
times, it continues to amaze me how simple the gospel is. Even
someone as firm as Lolita was with not wanting to change religions,
stuff like that, as she just read and prayed her understanding of what
God wanted for her grew, and her desire to follow that as well. The
gospel and God's plan are so simple. We just got to try it out, and
we'll know.

I really enjoyed Stake Conference on Sunday. President Teh of the
Area Presidency and Quoroum of the 70 came as was a special speaker.
My favorite speaker though was President Torres, our stake president.
He threw down on tithing and I'm going to try to see if I can get him
to write a book. He's way good. I wish I could attend his institute
classes.

It was also a tender mercy to be able to see some members from my old
area, Molo 2. I was happy to see Holy Grace. She's still going to
church and I'm happy her testimony is still strong.

I love you! Keep up the hip-haps that be happening.
Elder Burton