Hello Family!
Thanks for your letters. I love hearing about how your doing and they really strengthen me. I'm grateful to hear about your experiences and they really help me strive to be better. I'm glad Dad made it back home and that things are going smoothly again.
I'll start with the best news. Brother Jimmy Gonzaga entered the waters of baptism last Saturday, completing the family. Even though it may not have been the picture perfect all together, I believe it happened the way it had to happen. Jimmy seeing his family get baptized gave him a new determination to prepare himself more fully and realize what he was missing. This week before his baptism, he had a good amount of temptations, which I'm grateful for being he was able to more fully understand the power he had over sin. The day of his interview, his boss had won like a little lottery, around 15000 pesos, so he took the whole work out to drink and for dinner. Jimmy went, got some free food, downed a 2 liter bottle of orange soda, and just went home. He said all the work-mates were trying to get him to drink, but he refused. Good story. Many members came to the baptism, and he had a lot of support there. It was a way good experience and his testimony was powerful. In his testimony he mostly talked about the mighty change in his life. He talked about how most people know him as a drunkard. He and his wife used to go drink and go to a videoke bar all the time. But now he says he wakes up in the morning and sees his wife and daughter reading their scriptures. He takes his Book of Mormon with him to work every day. I can see him becoming a great leader one day in the church. He's already been assigned home teaching companions with President Timbas. They are also excited to go to the temple.
This week Elder Collins and I focused our companion study on the Book of Mormon. I think before my mission I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. At least I know that it is true and the teachings inside of it were true. But not till here on my mission have I really realized the power that comes into ones life just from reading and studying from it daily. I've seen it in the lives of so many people and in my own life. Just from reading it daily, I've seen a change in me. As you read and study from it, you become as King Benjamin's people, and lose any desire you have to do evil, but to do good continually. There is power received in reading to word every day. I now have a strong testimony of that. That's why I'm always happy to hear about your reading. Becca is doing great, she's finished Alma!
This week Elder Collins and I finally tried Sister Frisby's idea at an FHE. We taught them the phrase put yourself in their shoes and had the kids wear our shoes and put on some ties we brought. It was a really good lesson plus we got two lessons in one. They understood a lot better why we invite them to keep commitments and why its so important. It was nice because they realized some stuff and it gave them themselves a chance to bear their testimonies. Each one who attended the FHE came to church last Sunday. It was also a good lesson because right now those families have been talking to us a lot. One lady in the family is a single parent and is dirt poor, and she gets frustrated some times. She does have a hard life, but she takes a lot out on her kids. They kids are good kids.. but, they are kids. Sometimes they slack with their chores or whatever. But this little thing is tearing this family apart. We're still struggling knowing what we should do to help them. The mom just isn't letting herself be happy. We hope the switching places might have helped them understand each other a little better but if you all have any other ideas let me know of how we can help her be more positive. We've just been focusing on the doctrine. Helping them have family prayer, family scripture study, and family home evening. I think if they keep doing these simple things though they will be okay. We closed the lesson by reading in 4 Nephi about there never being a happier people and promised them that same blessing. It was a fun time.
We have some sweet investigators right now. One is Sis. Lolita. She's a referral from the Dyer's and she's doing great. We keep giving her reading assignments and she always pretty much just memorizes the whole chapter. I've never seen anyone understand the scriptures as well as she does. She loves the Book of Mormon. She loves how clearly it explains things. And she's doing great progressing.
Then I think I told you about Sis. Saling. She's a sweet widow we've been teaching. After our lesson with her she was going with us to a neighbors house and we passed a man she knew who was working. She said to him, "Hey! Why don't you take a break from work and have a snack!?" The man said, "What are we going to snack on?" And she said, "The words of God! They will fill you up more than any rice and rice topping!" It was really hilarious. She really loves the message and her faith is way strong. She is way far away from the church but she has come every week.
We have a funny investigator too named Lydia. In my study journal, I have a questions asked by investigators section, and I had to add, "When I die, is the first person I see San Pedro? Because he holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven." We also watched the restoration video with her and she saw a deer in the video and said, "What is that? a cat?" But after the video she told us she finally understood why God would call someone like Joseph Smith to be a prophet. She was way grateful and I think she'll continue to progress. She's a nice lady.
Sister Melania, basically my most favorite person I've ever met is continuing to do really well. Last week her husband, who had a stroke, came to church. And she stayed up all night one night this week and read like 100 pages from the Book of Mormon. Her faith is strong. She should be ready for baptism pretty soon.
I'm super grateful to be here still in the Garden of Eden.. I mean Guimaras. Guimaras is the Garden of Eden because when Adam ate of the fruit, God said, man-go. Get it? Guimaras, the land of mangoes? Hehe. Anyway, I know this is God's work. I see his tender mercies every day. I hope you all have a great week too!
This next week we'll be really busy. We have to go to Iloilo 6 out of 7 days. We have correlation with President Torres, Zone Leaders Council, leadership training, and then stake conference. It will be a busy week!
Love you,
Elder Burton
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