3 June 2012

Hey Family, Thanks for the info dad. I'll check that out, and ask president about that. But that would be sweet if we could apply. I would really love doing that. Thanks for looking into that for me. This week was great. I'm grateful to have spent another week in the service of the Lord. We worked hard this week, and saw a lot of success, even though we had two days this week in Iloilo. Last night when we were closing Elder Solis said to me in Tagalog. Der, you know, you are kind of like a kulangot. I wasn't sure what that meant so I asked and he wouldn't tell me. Today I looked it up. It means a dry booger. I guess thats whats happened to me over these two years. I've become a dried booger. haha. He was just joking of course. That sly guy. Anyway, our week was really good. Elder Nielson of the 70 came to visit and we had a zone conference with him in Iloilo. It was a great experience. I could literally sit for days at his feet listening to him. It was so amazing. Any question we had he could tell us the answer from the scriptures. He didn't even have to hold the scriptures as he taught. He would just tell us to open up our scriptures and yup, there it was. There is so much about the church to learn. This is truly God's church. It's perfect. I thought I've learned a lot on my mission, and while I have, I still have a lot to learn. So I'll keep studying every day. I don't have time to share all my notes with you but he shared cool stuff with us, like about his experience when he spoke at general conference. He also focused on helping us know how to help less-actives come back to church. Lunch was delicious. I finished all my food and then was sitting there digesting when Elder Andrews came up to me and said, "You're not going to finish that?" I said, "What do you mean, I already ate all the food on my plate!" He then said, "I can't believe you're not going to finish that?!" And then he picked up the banana peel on my plate and started eating it. I started eating it too. We finished our food. We have to be finishers, not starters. I had an embarrassing moment with Elder Nielson. I walked into the bathroom after lunch and saw my zone leaders. I said to them enthusiastically, "Hey!!! What's crack-a-lackin ye elders of Israel!?" They didn't say a word back to me. I thought they were just being kind of mean but then Elder Nielson walked out of the stall. He just smiled at me. I started playing a new game when we go to a former investigator or visit a less-active member for the first time. The game is, "Find the Book of Mormon!" Anyway, we entered into a house of this one former investigator and there I saw it. It was tucked in between two layers of the grass roofing of the house. We were in a house probably as big as our kitchen area. I asked the man if he still had his Book of Mormon and he said he lost it a long time ago. I'm quite surprised that although one of his few possessions in his tiny house is the Book of Mormon, he didn't know where it was. I got it for him. We explained how precious the book is and invited him to read. I hope he does. For all these years he's been struggling in his life, with barely anything, but sitting in his house is a way to obtain riches and happiness greater than he can even imagine. That's what we're trying to help people accept; the greatest gift our heavenly father wants to give them. Next week we should have the baptism of Lorenz. I'm really excited. He's a great kid and he'll be a great help in our branch. I was teaching sunday school last sunday and I was talking about being watchmen from Ezekiel and how each of us in the branch are like watchmen. I was trying to get the branch more excited about their responsibilities. Elder Solis and I are trying to visit all the LAs, trying to strengthen all the members, but we can't do it alone, we need members help!! One of the members mentioned as I taught Lorenz. He said, "Lorenz works with the elders every Thursday! And he's not even a member!" The funny thing too is mostly we take Lorenz to visit less-actives. He's a sweet kid. He'll be a great member and help. We're really driving in him enduring to the end. I think he'll do it. He told us if he has to he'll walk to church on Sunday! I love you all! Thanks for the birthday wish. I'm happy to be out here. Tell Jared and Rob to just email me! Take care, Elder Burton