18 March 2012

Hey Family,


I hope everythings going well in Colorado Springs. I hope Jared's doing good as well. I hope he has nothing wrong with my brain, though growing up I had my suspicions. Jokes! But I'm glad everything seems to be okay. It sounds like you are all staying really busy! Dad seems to be on a plane every week! But I'm glad that your all supporting eachother in these pursuits.


I thought Hattie was going on a mission! That's crazy! Was the boy nice? Tell Mitchell too I love that guy and good luck on his mish. Sorry about your class too mum.


This week was way good. On Tuesday I got to work with my space dad, my follow-up trainer, Elder Eror. He's our district leader in Nueva Valencia. It was a way good experience. I really love Elder Eror. He's a way humble guy. And especially now nearing the end of his mission he really expressed to me how much he's grown himself. Just seeing the faith from the people here in the Philippines really has helped him. Me as well. It's amazing. I loved working in Nueva. It's a way beautiful area, one of the most beautiful I've worked in. We kind of struggled because most of our appointments fell through but we did find 2 guys, JB and Sam, that seem to be ripe to receive the gospel. They are just 2 guys in their 30s with little direction for life. I hope Elder Eror was able to go back.


Wednesday was way good too. We got to see Sister Saling in the morning. She should be baptized this next week along with Mellania Ester. (The lady we met praying at the funeral for an hour. She's had a great change wrought in her. She's amazing too.) Anyway, Sister Saling before was a seventh day adventist. She was way active in that church but she told us the other day her pastor came up to her and asked her why she hasn't been going to church. She testified to him that she had found the truth. She read and prayed about the Book of Mormon and knew that it was the word of God. She knows that our Church is the Church of Jesus Christ and He has called a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson to guide us. She gave an amazing testimony and after that the pastor just left. He couldn't really say anything against the power of a pure testimony. She knows its true and that this is what she needs to do. I'm grateful for her example of faith. Her kids are doing good too. They might have to be baptized after her though since they have a little more preparation to do.


I never really realized how much persecution our investigators get for listening to us. I guess because I'm just used to brushing anything off people say that's offensive. But it's amazing how they overcome it. We've heard stories this week of investigators who have been told to stop listening, but they keep doing it. There's an investigator in Jordan named Roly who is the referral of one of our young men, Norman, who was told to stop and he just said, "I know what I must do." This kid already wants to go on a mission. The work is amazing. The members are doing great. We went to visit Nanay Bico on Sunday and found out that 2 members had already visited them. Then we taught and when we finished 2 more members showed up to visit them too and share. The work of the Lord can't be stopped. I love times like this, when members get this excited about the work!


Nanay Bico really reminds me of Grandmother Dear, or Tutu. She's just like super polite and a way cute lady. And most people here let there kids run around like crazy but Nanay Bico makes sure her grandkids are way polite. Like once while we were teaching and her granddaughter, Mimi, or Emily, heard the phone and read the text and then read the text and went to show her lola, and Nanay Bico just looked at her as if to say, "Hey, the missionaries are sharing right now, we'll do that later." It's way cool. I'm grateful for tutu, she always taught us to be polite and not crazy kids. Nanay Bico even looks a lot like Grandma. I told her that and she said the Tutu is probably way more gwapa than her though.


Anyway, Nanay Bico came with us to work with an investigator we've been struggling with. She is just way set in her ways and doesn't want to change, repent. Nanay Bico was perfect though. She shared a way strong testimony about how she was so set in her ways, in her church, for 56 years. She had never imagined even changing. The missionaries taught her for like 10 months before she got baptized too. She shared how she finally realized that that was right when she stopped thinking with her mind, but with her heart, she understood what God's plans were for her, and she's being a great example.


On Friday too of this week we went to Iloilo to work with the APs. Elder Collins went with Elder Pettit and I went with the new AP, Elder Anderson. It was a way good experience. I actually got to work in my old ward, Molo 2, just in the other part so it was fun to see some members I knew and actually some people who were baptized while I was there. I learned a lot from them, especially about always being an example and lifting people where ever you are. Even while walking to appointment to appointment we just could talk about experiences we've had and how God really works through us.


That's about it. I'm just way grateful for the chance I have to learn and grow here on the mission. I know this is the Lord's work, and everything happens according to his plan.


I love you all! Hope all is going well!
Elder Burtron