29 April 2012

Hey Family, Sounds like a lot is happening. Who did Jared go to prom with? It sounds like a lot is happening back home. But I'm trying to stay focused on why I'm out here. It's really a battle, enduring to the end. But I know that as we focus on why we are out here that it will be easy. I read this week a talk that compared eternal life to a recipe book. In the recipe book you see a picture of the delicious food and then you can read all the steps you have to take to cook it. Seeing the picture gives you a desire to make it, but you can't make it a leave out any ingredients, you have to follow with exactness if you want the product. I believe its like that. If we understand and always remember the blessing of eternal life and focus on that, we will follow with exactness in our life, no matter what our struggles are. I remember that every day. That's my greatest desire for our family, that we can be together forever. I hope we all remember that goal we have and as we do, I believe everything else will follow. This week went really well for us. We struggled a lot because we struggled finding new investigators and then our investigators we've found in past weeks have either not been home, or been having crazy drinking parties, or just have hid from us. It's been tough to see. It's the hardest thing seeing an individual reject the blessings of the gospel. I got a copy of Elder and Sister Wood's (grandma and grandpa) letter from who knows when, but I want them to know I'm proud of them and I love getting their letters every week. Even though the work, the struggles, and the experiences is different in each of the area's we are serving in are different, I know that we are doing the work of the Lord. I am thrilled every week to hear of their experiences and the changes happening in the lives of the people we teach. And I think any change that can happen in an individual in a miracle. Everyone struggles, and each of us can overcome sin through the power of the atonement, and I believe that happening in even the smallest way is a miracle. I remember in my first area, how much I struggled. I couldn't speak and we weren't having too much success, in what I thought before success was. We visited an investigator there that was poorer than anything. She lived in her house with her young grandchildren, whose parents had left them, and all she did for a living was make brooms, which she sold for 5 pesos each. We taught her, and she asked us for money, but we couldn't give it to her. But I did what I had just learned to do in Ilonggo, and I taught her how to pray. She started praying everyday, and received the help she needed. She ended up not progressing after that, but this moment has really become one of my most precious memories in the field. Because we were able to help her come, even just a little bit, to her heavenly Father. I think that's the real joy you get from the gospel. I know the work you, Grandma and Grandpa, have done in Germany is great, and I would never laugh at it. It's the Lord's work. And remembering the little miracles really helps me keep going in my mission. We all have trials. Not everything always happens the way we want it to go, but I know that all things will work out okay in the end. As long as we lift where we stand, as Pres. Uctdorf said, nothing can stop this work from moving upward and forward. So it was with this week. Even though we struggled a lot we still noticed a couple good things happen. One day was after all of our investigators punted us. We walked around and try to talk to a ton of people, but no one was letting us in their house. No one even gave us a chance to talk to them. Maybe we smelled bad or they thought we were monsters or something, because everyone we saw started running in the opposite direction. I couldn't help but say to myself, "hey! I'm no monster! I just want to help! That's why I came here!" Anyway, we kept walking and eventually we saw a group of kids, around 5 years old, playing some game called Chinese. We stopped and talked to them and then I did my sweet magic tricks, like making my tounge really long. I'm really good. Actually I'm no good at magic, but they really enjoyed it. As we were about to leave one of the kids uncles came by to give her a couple pesos to buy some ice candy, then he kept walking. We then just started walking with him and talked to him and we're able to give him a pamphlet and he said we could go back to his house. We're excited to try to find him this week. Edgar is doing great still! I think I forgot to tell you last week at the marriage the mayor tried to hook me up with one of her workers. But I stayed strong and told her, "Nay! I am here to serve Dao!" And then I went to the field and cut a lot of guys arms off. jokes! Anyway, a lot of members made fun of me this week because of that. You'd be surprised how many times I've been proposed to by parents and government officials, but my heart is locked. As of now it's been days since Edgar has smoked a cigarette. It's been a miracle. He's full of hope and courage for the future, and though he's been through a lot, and regrets a lot, he's going to make sure he follows until the end. I'm excited for him and he's getting way pumped up for his baptism. I am too. This week we also have a new investigator that finally came to church! He's the first new investigator that's come to church in about 3 months, so the branch is pretty excited. His name in Lorenz, that's the correct spelling. He is a way good guy. We taught him for the first time and told him that we have a living prophet and he was like, "Whoa! Are you serious?" It was sweet. He was way excited to hear that news. That's the first time that's happened to me. Most people don't even react when we tell them theres a prophet. Some people have in there minds that their local priest or even us as missionaries are prophets. So we have to explain a lot to them what it means. But this kid really got it before we had to explain anything to him. We gave him a date for baptism too on my two year mark. So we're way excited for this kid. He's had a tough life. His mom had a stroke and his dad has had a nervous breakdown. He's been through a lot. But he's a way good kid and I'm sure he'll progress. I gave him our phone for him to put his number in the phone and he saved his name, ".LDs.LoRenz." haha. He's sweet. We also had a sweet lesson yesterday with a less-active member. I've been pondering a lot lately about the atonement. It's something I'm grateful for everyday. Dad wrote me once about the atonement and mentioned that he realized that it's really about us us being able to overcome sin. I really believe that. Every day as we draw near our Father in Heaven we understand our weaknesses and are able to overcome them. As we discussed the power of the atonement with this man I watched as tears filled his eyes. Even though he didn't say much I knew that he felt the desire to come unto Christ and feel the power of the atonement in his life. I'm grateful for you all. Thanks for all your support. I love you. Take care! Elder Burton