2 April 2012

Hey Family,


I'm jealous you all got to listen to conference already. You couldn't believe how unbelievably excited Elder Collins and I are for conference next week. I'm glad the cruise was good too. Rebekah's description of it was somewhat boring, just focusing on the sit in cabin aspect, but it sounded cool. You'll have to send me some pictures via email. And by the way Jared, filipinos are way stinkin good at pingpong so I'll probably destroy you when I get home. I'll probably play l8ter today. (<- you like that, I just learned to do that when I text)


This week was sweet. The best news was the baptism of Sister Lolita. She is a really sweet lady. She's a single lady and has 1 daughter who she loves more than anything. Her daughter is in Baguio but should come home in a couple months. Her conversion was really cool and at the same time really simple. Before she is what Joan (our recent convert) would call a religious fanatic. She was super strong in her church and would never change. When we started teaching her that's what she told us too. But we just let the Lord do his job while we did ours. As she read in the Book of Mormon and prayed she knew this is what she needed to do. Her baptism was really special. First we had a special musical number where Sister Gigi Javier sang while her mom Sister Tabaque played guitar, then we had asked Edward last week if Nanay Bico could speak at the baptism, which she was able to do. Nanay Bico was way nervous because it was the first assignment she had ever received, but it was one of the most powerful talks I've heard. She just told of her conversion and how she was a strong in her religion for so many years, 55 years before the missionaries came. And when they did came she was still skeptical cause it was just a bunch of kids teaching her. But the missionaries kept coming, for 10 months, and eventually she decided that she would do whatever God wanted her to do, so she knelt down and asked to know what that was. She then testified that she knew this was the one true church of Jesus Christ. I'm just grateful for this work. I read this morning in Alma 26 about Ammon glorying in the Lord and I feel just like him. You don't get any greater joy than seeing the change that happens in people through this gospel. I'm so grateful for repentance, that every day we can become better, and eventually we can become like our Father in Heaven. Nothing beats this. After Lolita and I changed Lolita stood up to give her testimony. It was way powerful too. She told that before her mother died that she was a member of the church choir and when Sister Gigi sang it was as if her mother was there, accepting her baptism. That was really cool since I'm sure that's something she worried about. People here are really against change, "I was born here I'm gonna die here!" But it was a cool experience for her. I'm excited for her to continue to progress in the gospel!


We also are continuing to teach Roxanne's brother, Waren. Roxanne's on fire, and her conversion is true. She actually went to Iloilo this week to hopefully take the missionaries there to meet more of her family. Her brother is doing way good, he's a way good kid. He already told us he wants to go on a mission. He's 19 now so maybe he can even go next year!


The Gonzaga's nephew and niece, Daboy and Xavier are doing way good too. They are really good at reading and going to church. It's really funny because Jimjin basically acts like Xavier's mom. Jimjin is getting super excited about Personal Progress and actually went with Xavier to the Young Woman's broadcast and branch activity. Xavier and Daboy actually wanted to go to a fiesta this weekend but Jimjin threw down on them and told them that they have to go to conference and listen to the words of our living prophets! It was way sweet. Jimjin is also trying to get them signed up for seminary. She's on fire. Jimmy and Maryjane are doing way good too. They are such a good family, I'm excited to hear about their temple trip next year.


We also went with Sister Saling Gallano this week to a referral near her house. We had to walk like 10 minutes to get there and it was farther than I thought so I mentioned that this was kind of far. Then sister Saling told us that one time she had actually walked from her house to the town center? before to go to church. And that one time was actually last sunday. Elder Collins and I were just like, "Whoaa!!" Because it's way far, it probably took her 2 or 3 hours. She has faith! She'll be a great member.


Well, my companion has LBM so we have to go,
I love you,
Elder Burton