Work, Work, Work!

Family and Friends!

 

Another wow!! This week has been amazing!! We have had great success here in Calapan and it's amazing to see the Lord's hand in our work and how He has prepared people for us. We have 8 investigators with a baptismal date!! (Not till September and October though- need to get them to church and through all the lessons) and we had 13 investigators (4 families) come to church yesterday! Sister Malig said that's a new record. Haha :) It was super exciting and I was so so grateful.   A member in our branch thanked me for working so hard to get investigators to church and I told him it's all Sister Malig but he said, no, it's you too. Sometimes I just feel like I'm not contributing that much since I can't speak very well and most of the time. But there's more you can do without language :) 

So everyday life is waking up at 6:30, working out for a wee bit- (oh, which reminds me! Mom, will you send me an email of all the workouts done in the 10 minutes show? With a brief description? I know that's a lot to ask for but I never know what to do. Haha Or you can make Amber or Robyn do it :) It doesn't have to be that but some kind of workout plan. Salamat!) Then showering with a bucket- always fun. Oh, and they have toliet paper here!! I bought some at the Robinson's market the other day! They actually have about everything I need here- thank goodness! But this market is probably the only one that has toliet paper. We went to a wet market today and man, was that interesting! We bought groceries for dinner with Jane's family (she's getting baptized Sept 14! and her family are taking the lessons!) for tomorrow. And we bought pig ears. Yep, I'm going to eat that tomorrow. We'll see how it goes! But of course I say chicken feet, chicken heads and many unknown things. Just all these food booths lined up- things are crazy here in the Philippines but I love it. But I know you all would laugh if you saw the things I do everyday. Haha most the food I like here so far but the other day I had a duran. It is so so gross! And the smell is so strong, our whole apartment stunk! It's like this weird fruit that's creamy, squishy, and stringy. And smells and tastes funny. Haha You'll see a picture of it :) 

Anyway the rest of my day we study and then go out and find and teach. The beginning of this week it rained, and rained, and rained. Haha So everywhere was super muddy and by the time we got home my feet are caked in mud. Thank goodness for crocs!

We taught a lot this week- about 22 lessons and just go about everywhere. Work, work, work! Something I thought of this week was how blessed I am to teach these people. They literally have nothing. Most live in a one room home, that's made of concrete, boards, and bamboo. Most don't have running water and some don't have electricity. But the thing I love the most about them is how they give so much. And they freely give of there love. They love us so much and are always willing to hear our message. I feel so honored and blessed to serve these people. They truly are the most amazing people and are already a great example to me. To love freely and to be happy despite the problems they have. It's been amazing to see. 

Our investigators are the best of all! First off, we are teaching Sister Jane. She's getting baptized soon and is already like a member. Haha She considers herself one :) Because of her example, her family is now listening to our message. Her son and his girlfriend have accepted to be baptized and we have just started teaching them. And we're still working on Jane's husband but he's warmed up to us a lot to the point we're he's sat in on two lessons. Success! 

We have three families that we're just started to teach but haven't invited to be baptized yet. Two of them came to church though! One of them is our neighbors and we rode to church with them where I sat on the motorcycle instead of inside the cart. Haha Loved it! But they all have such cute kids and we're excited to see the progress take place. Some I can feel that they have been prepared for this. 

I've made a few favorites. Sister Judith is one of them. She reminds me of Kelly Benefield, from work. She even has some of the same problems Kelly has. Lost her husband and is terribly alone. But she is the most loving woman. Haha so much that she wants us to come live with her, free of charge! Haha we told her we can't but we're going out for a lunch/dinner with her today. And she speaks wonderful English! Haha it's nice to understand someone and to hear something familar. Sister Malig speaks great English too but it's nice to be able to communicate with an investigator fully. 

Sister Malig is awesome! We just have a lot in common and get along really well, I just feel bad for her that she has a poor tagalog speaker as a companion.

My biggest concern is tagalog. I pray hard everyday for being able to communicate with these wonderful people. I can understand alot more but it's hard for me to communicate back. It's hard to balance it- not trying to worry too much about it but at the same time learning it and striving to communicate better. I just try to do better each day- that's all you can do sometimes. 

Anyways all is well. I love hearing from all of you! Thank you for the letters :) Keep sending them :) You all mean so much to me and you're in my prayers everyday. Mahal ko kayo! Have a great week! 

Love, Sister Burnham  

 

 I think this is the yucky duran!

Thank goodness for Crocs! 

 Fetchin' some water :)

 

First Week in the Philippines

  Family and Friends!

I am so happy it's p-day because I finally tell you all about the
Philippines!! I'm still trying to believe that I am actually here!
It's definetly a whole new world here but I already love it so so
much!
Monday we flew out- flights weren't bad and we got in the Philippines
Tuesday night. We went to a hotel in Manila for the night where we had
a total of 3 hours for sleep. Nice huh? It was an adventure-
especially with the monkey outside and heat of the humidity. Oh ya,
it's really humid and warm here- just so you're all aware! I haven't
been completely dry since I've been here! Haha Exciting, huh?
Wednesday I finally got to meet my Mission President and his wife.
They are truly amazing and it was nice to finally make it to the
mission home. The next day I got my new companion- Sister Malig. Yes,
she is Philippino :) And she is the cutest Philippino of all! I love
her so so much! She's always giving me hugs and always has a smile on
her face. I'm her first anak (kid) and she's my nanay (mom). She's a
hard worker and makes me work hard but it's super good and she's so
encouraging.
Thursday I finally got to go to my first area!! And I am on an island!
It's the island of Mindora and I'm the city of Calapan. We had to take
a boat ride to get to our area- haha I'm sure we looked hilarous
taking my suitcases on to the boat and trying to balance everything.
But we made it there fine and we had the missionary couple pick us up
along with two Elders. I guess there's only two sets of Elders and two
sets of Sisters on the islands. I got lucky to be assigned here :) And
I love it! It's maganda!! Beautiful!! So green and pretty, life can't
get better than this! :)
Friday was my first day of teaching. And they were right- I feel like
I learned another language in the MTC. Haha just kidding- I learned
tagalog but they speak so so fast!! I can hardly keep up!! Most the
time I just smile and say opo!! Pero, the first day of teaching was
good :) I tried to speak as much as I could- thank goodness I have a
Philippino companion! Haha she's a blessing :) My favorite lesson that
day was with Irene, she's a less active, way less active. We taught
her the Book of Mormon and I really felt the Spirit work through me as
I bore my testimony about it to her. In her prayer she thanked me for
that testimony and was so excited when we gave her a copy of the Book
of Mormon. I hope and pray that she'll come back to the fold.
Saturday we had a full day!! We seriously went up into the
mountain/jungle area of the island. No joke! It was so beautiful and
it was so humbling to see how these people live. Most of them live in
a one room shack, with a tin roof. And it's small- one sister's home
was the size of mom and dad's walk in closet. It only had their beds
in there and that was it. It's amazing to me. And these people are so
loving and so happy. They don't have anything but are grateful for
what they do have. Oh and the kids- these are the cutest kids! All day
on Saturday- kids running toward us shouting "Sisters!!" They are so
so cute!! And they just stare at me, it's not very often that they get
to see this white American. Haha so many people say how beautiful I
am, white skin is in!! Haha But, some have told me that I am chubby
too :( Haha But that's a good thing here! My kasama even tells me that
and how she wants to gain weight. Being big and white is a beautiful
and good in there culture. Haha I think I like this place :)
Sunday I had to bear my testimony in our little Calapan Branch- it was
very broken tagalog. Haha But the Saints here are so sweet! They all
are so loving and so kind. I already love the people here so much :)
I'm excited to get to know them better. We also had FHE last night
with two families and it was a blast! Mom, your baby powder came in
use with a game we played last night haha I'll try to send pictures :)
Today is p-day so we did cleaning and washed our clothes by hand. It
takes a long time and it's very tiring!! Haha Let's just say, I won't
ever take washing machines for granted again!!
The only problem I've come up against is the language. I'm trying to
not worry about it too much but at the same time I just want to be
able to understand and speak. Though this week, I'm going to work
harder with it and try to teach more with the Spirit. And take that
step of faith by just talking and having the words given to me. It
scares me but I know that's how I'll get it.
It was so good to hear from all of you! I'm having a great time here!
Riding in tricycles, wiping sweat off my face every minute, and
getting bitten by bugs like crazy, and eating lots and lots of rice!
But all is well :) It's been quite the adventure so far and I love it.
I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you all next p-day!
Mahal ko kayo!
Mahal, Sister Burnham

 

These little kids are so cute!!! 

Sister Burnham and Sister Malig 

A Philippino taxi???



She is Safe and Sound! In the Philippines!!!

This is actually an email that we got from Holly's mission president on the 16th!

 

Dear Brother and Sister Burnham,

We are delighted to have Sister Holly Anne Burnham in our mission. She has a great spirit and we are looking forward to knowing her better. Se will be servings in Calapan IA, Mindoro for the next few months with Sister Shara Joy Canlas Malig.

Thank you for preparing and sending us this fine missionary. We will love and take care of her.

Faithfully,
President George E. Peterson
Sister Kathryn M. Peterson
Philippines San Pablo Mission

 

Short and Sweet

Pamilya at Kibiggon! (Family and Friends!- I don't think I spelt friends right haha)

 

This week has been CRAZY!! A little bit more crazy than last week but that's ok- it's mga misyonero sa buhay! It's missionary life! But it's good :) Today I've been getting chores done and getting set for Monday!! We're leaving the MTC around 6:15 in the morning to ride on the frontrunner to the airport. Then I'll be traveling for a couple of days! I can't believe that it's here! A month and a week went by so fast! It was slow at first but it went by so fast! I wonder if the mission is like that...l guess we'll see! I'm sad to leave, mainly for the friends that I have made here; it's sad because half of my district is going to another mission and some of my closest sister friends I'm leaving here behind. It's just a bitter sweet moment but I know that it's time to go. You can only progress so far in the MTC- I feel like it's time for me to go and use what I have been preparing for so far. It's not going to be easy but that's the best way to do it- just get right into the work :)

 

In field training was amazing! It got me super pumped for going! Oh I forget to tell you- I got to leave campus this week! My kasama has warts on the bottom of her feet and we had to be shuttled to a doctors office to get them taken care off. We left the MTC and went out into the world! I felt like it was bawal! Forbidden! Haha Hearing music on the radio and seeing a man in too tight of jeans- it was scary! Even for Utah! Haha, but the doctors was interesting- they put a needle through her foot to numb it and then shot her warts with embalming fluid! They kill the cells of the wart and eventually they'll turn black and she'll scrap them off. Sick and crazy right? Astig! I felt bad for her though- that's not fun but I was a good kasama and held her hand through it :) And it was a good bonding time for us :) Haha

 

Well I'm excited to go! I'm feeling just about every emotion but I think that's normal :) I know without a doubt that this is the right thing. That I'm meant to go to the Philippines. And nobody is going to tell me otherwise. I've made it this far and I have so much more to go but it's about the journey, not the destination. Read 3 Nephi 13: 31-34 (the last four verese of the chapter) Anyways, it's maganda! It really touched my heart to not worry. As long as I'm doing my part and following Him, he will take care of the rest. I know that he will help me speak tagalog, help me be a successful missionary, and I know that he will take care of my family and friends back at home. "Things will work out." -Gordon B. Hinckley

 

Mahal ko kayo! I love you all, oh so much :) Maaari salamat para sa tulungan. Many thanks for the help - every one of you have helped me so much in so many ways, Salamat.

 

Hurrah for Israel! Here I come Philippines!!

 

Mahal,

Sister Holly Burnham

 

P.S. Holly left today for the Philippines! :)

One More Week!

Kumusta!!

 

I can't believe I only have one week left here at the MTC!! It's been so much fun to be here- and to see how much I have learned and grown. I think I've been changing as well but for the better. Missions do change people. But overall this week has been great!!

 

I got my flight plans yesterday! We had to wait outside the mailing room for Elder Finch, our district leader to bring them to us and when he finally came out we practically all screamed from excitiment! Haha Then he had us come running down like we were being called to a showcase on the price is right! Haha Let's just say, we were all really excited! So I am going in a group of about 15 people- I'll  be with all the San Pablo missionaries! Woot woot! We are going to Portland to Toyko, Japan!! (So cool!!) Then on to Manila, Philippines!! I'll be leaving the MTC about 7:30 in the morning next Monday so I'll probably be calling home around 9-10:00. My flight is at 11ish so just be expecting a call in next Monday morning. I'll probably call your cell phone mom :)

 

So I'll just tell you what I did this last week- Last Saturday was Sis. Brewer's birthday! We celebrated it as a district by playing missionary phrase/picture game and eating cupcakes Elder Parry's mom sent us. It was super nice of her to do that. Sunday I was asked to be the Sister Training Leader- both me and my kasama. I kinda had a feeling it was coming because the last Sister Training Leaders were dropping hits and I just wasn't suprised when Bro. Howard asked us. I was nervous at first to be in charge of everyone but that didn't last long. I love this calling! I get to know and love the sisters more in ways that weren't possible before. And we basically have the best sisters in our zone. We also have great Zone Leaders. They are just hilarous and I love working with them. So far the calling has been a blessing to me.

 

Monday we taught two lessons to our "investigators" (aka our teachers) and they just get better and better. I love teaching! It's amazing too when the Spirit directs you and you know what to say- even in tagalog. I'm still not perfect with the language- actually far from it. But the Spirit can talk to them when I can't. It's such an amazing experience and I wish everyone could experience it. Me and Sister Reed did get a little discouraged later on in the day- we just felt overwhelmed with our new callings and responsiblites. I felt like my studies- espcially my langauge studies would slack. I was just getting worried and concerned on my progress. But we seriously have the best teachers here at the MTC- Bro. Kovach talked to us and he gave such good advice. He said how our lessons with him are so good and that we need not to worry as long as we teach with the Spirit- because the language will come. He's just an amazing teacher- he cares so much about our district and gives his all to us. I wish him and Sister Briggs could come with us to the Philippines.

 

Later on though, Sister Reed was still feeling down. She had a "dark cloud" over her head. (Read Helaman 5- greatest chapter!!) Anyway, she was just really struggling. Our Elders offered to give her a blessing of comfort. And it was exactly what she needed. Afterwards they offered to it to me as well and at first I thought I was fine, that I didn't need one. But I felt the prompting to have one and I'm so glad I did. I really did need that blessing of comfort. Afterwards, we went through our whole district- all recieving blessings to get us through these next last two weeks in the MTC. I'll tell you- never had I felt so much power from blessings before. Even though they were simple blessings of comfort- you could feel the Spirit so strongly in our classroom. These 18 year old Elders and for many was their first time giving blessings- brought the Spirit in so strongly, that at one point I thought I was in the temple. The power of the priesthood is real. And the power missionaries have is real. I will never forget that experience that we had together as a district and the blessings and comfort that blessed upon me. It was a beautiful blessing.

 

Tuesday I got to welcome the International missionaries!! Especially the sisters- we have two sisters from a little island by Fuji- I'm terrible but I can never remember the name of the island they are from. But what great faith they have- to leave there families, get on a plane that is so foreign to them and come to a place where they are surrounded by two languages they can hardly understand. And they are the happiest and sweetest missionaries. I love them so much and it was an honor to welcome them and spend the evening with them. Wednesday the rest of the new missionaries came and we got to welcome them as well. There's three missionaries here that are from N. Ogden!! One knows Jaron!! His name is Elder Thorpe and he's even from 21st ward. I don't remember him or know his last name- it sounds familar though. So mom, you'll have to remember for me! Haha

 

The rest of the week has gone by great! Except Friday morning I woke up with a sore thoart :( Which is never fun! I still have it and feel really sore and tired. I probably got it by not getting enough sleep and being around some of the other missionaries who were sick. So you know, it's ok. I'll get better and all will be well :)

 

I do have a favor to ask mom :) And you offered! Haha Can you send me some of those ballet socks- you know the half socks. Haha, you can just send them in a small envelope too, that's all I really need. And thank you for the toliet paper- haha you're the best! Hopefully I do get it but if not I'll just become Philippino :) Haha I have those wet wipes you sent me so I should be okay :)

 

I have a story that Bro. Kovach shared with us!! So he said that at one of his apparments in Manila, they had bad cat problems- like they were pests breaking into their face eating their food. So they told their land lord and he told them to just kick them out. Haha Dogs, cats, and rats are on the bottom of the food chain- sometimes they become dinner too :) Anyway, one day they shooed this cat out and it was running towards the road. Well their landlord was standing on the side of the road and when he saw the cat, he kicked it. So much that it got some air and was flying. And while it was up in the air, a bus flew by and hit the cat. Hahaha Isn't that funny?! He said is better in tagalog but we all just died laughing. Instead of bugs on the windshield, it's cats. Hahaha so gross! It's going to be a different culture in the Philippines! But I'm so excited to go! Bro. Mansfield, the one that flew home with Cameron, told me yesterday that he has never meant any other culture on the face of the earth that are the nicest and happiest people but the Philippinos. I believe he's right. I haven't got to know for myself yet but I just know it's true.

 

"What you do with your 18 months, will echo through eternity... A day hasn't gone by where I don't think about my mission. It changed my life." - H. Bryan Richards. (He talked to us Tueaday) I know that my mission has already changed my life, it's amazing.

 

Mahal ko kayo. Salamat para sa mahal at suporta!! Ayous ko kayo!!

 

Mahal, Sister Burnham    

 

P.S. Melece- will you have Kamry email or write me?! I miss her! Salamat!! :)

Tagalog and "Goofing Off"

Pamilya and friends!! ( I forgot how to say that in tagalog :))

 

How is everyone doing?! I haven't heard from a lot of you while I've been here. If you can send a dear elder or write a quick little letter I would most appreciate it!! Missionaries love letters- believe me, I would know :)

 

Anyways, it's been a great week! I'll actually be leaving in about two weeks to the Philippines! I get flight plans on Friday- crazy!! Monday the oldest district in our zone leaves and then I'll be one of the oldest! The MTC has been great, it was slow at first but it's starting to pick up and everyday I come to love my Sisters and my district so much more- I don't even want to think about leaving them, it makes me sad :/

 

This week did start off a little rocky- Elder Gallen, who is from Micronesia, was having a hard time and wanting to go home. We have already lost an Elder our second week here so we couldn't bear the thought of another one leaving. He's just having a hard time with the language- going from his native language to English to Tagalog. Super hard. And his kasama isn't probably the easiest person to be with. But thankful Pres. Smith stepped in and helped alot. He changed some championships around and things are going better. Elder Oberg is a great Elder and he's very patient with him. And we Sisters do our best to help.

 

I meet Elder Moyle!! He was going around to all the Tagalog classrooms looking for a Sister who had a Grandpa Stone. Haha it was great! Hopefully I can send the picture I got with him :) He seems to be a great Elder.

 

We taught our "investigators" aka our teachers throughout this week. It  was really good! I love teaching and I had another eye opener as I was teaching. As we commited Daryl aka Bro. Kovach to be bapitized, I just had this overwhelming happiness for him. I came to realize that this is my purpose and I'm going to the Philippines for those people. I thought when I was leaving I was doing it for my family, my friends, my ward and even myself a bit. But it's so much more than that. I'm doing it for the Philippino people, and most importantly for the Lord. Last Sunday we watched a video by Elder Bednar called the Character of Christ- it was given at an MTC devotional. Super good! He was very blunt in it but super powerful. He talked about getting overselves, letting go of the natural man- or as he called the cookie monster. Which fits so perfectly! But thinking outward, like Christ did. He never once thought about himself, but worried about others. Even in the process of the atonement and dying for us. Amazing. But the man thing that really got to me was that this mission is not about us. It's not about you. It's about the people who you will serve and especially the Lord you will serve. It was overall just an amazing devotional and things said that we can apply in our lives, no matter where we are or what we are doing.

 

Most the time we are in classes- tagalog, tagalog, tagalog!! Tell Sister Wilkins for me that I actually understand half of what she said, but half of the words were unfamiliar to me. Hahaha but I'm working on it! I finally get the sentence structure but I still need to work on my conjunactions, so confusing and hard to remember all of them! But I have faith that I will learn the language and it's amazing how much I do now. Yesterday we had a English fast were we could only talk in Tagalog. If we didn't know the word we would have to look it up. It was very entertaining especially at breakfast trying to figure out how to say "Pass the salt and pepper". Haha but we kinda stopped by noon because our brains were hurting. But it was good and it helped alot. We're going to try to do that more often. Especially since we've been slacking and goofing off as a district the past couple days- well not yesterday. But we've been falling behind. So tagalog, tagalog it is and work and work!

 

Yesterday was funny- Elder Finch, our district leader said he had letters for all of us Sisters and when he pulled it out he realized that he I didn't have one. I think he got confused with my name with Sister Brewer's. Anyway- he felt super bad and I was teasing him how I wasn't going to talk to him anymore- just joking of course :) But he wrote me a letter and stuck it in an evelope and acted like he found my lost letter. Haha it was just funny yet super kind. We have a great district- I love the Sisters and Elders. We all get along great and have a good time together. Elder Oberg and I were drawing funny pictures on the board and transalting lines from Lord of the Rings and Star Wars into Tagalog. Yep- it was great :)

 

Something else the other night when I was jsut feeling down about the language- Sister Hardy, out Sister Trainer, told us Sisters in my district how much Elder Finch just respects and admires us. I guess in their zone meetings he always tells them that we do good because of the Sister's strength and the encouragement and support we give the Elders. It just made me happy to know that our district leader thinks that about us :)

 

Well, I have to get going! I would love to hear back from all of you. Send me letters- way better than email. My address is on facebook! I love you all and wish me good luck with my last two weeks in the MTC and learning tagalog. Cameron- you still have not written me in tagalog yet!! I need the practice!! Haha :)

 

I love you all and I hope you all have a great week!!

 

Love, Sister Burnham  

 

A Small World and More Tagalog!

Pamilya!!

 

Thank you for all the emails, it's so much fun to read on how everyone is doing and this is my favorite part about p-day :)

 

First off, happy p-day!! I love p-days!! It's a little break from the ordinary day of classes, tagalog, and learning how to teach. I love it all but it's nice to have a break!

 

So, I need to ask a few favors. Will you write my district letters? I think it would be fun that while you are at the reunion you can all write us letters. We all have the same mailing address. There names are Sister Reed (my kasama) Sister Keith and Sister Brewer. Elder Finch, Elder Oberg, Elder Hinton, Elder Parry, and Elder Gallen. Elder Gallen is from Micronesia. I just know that they would love it! Mom, will you send me a couple more pairs of crocs. My kasama has these crocs that look more durable then the ones I have and I think they'll last longer. She said that she got them on amazon and they're called mary jane's. If you could just get me a black and brown pair that would be great! Salamat! Also I will most likely get to call you in the airport when I leave the MTC. I'll give you more details later but just be aware :) Will you ask Reese what his email address is and writing address ? I haven't heard from him yet and I'm dying to see how's he doing :) Thanks!

 

How's everyone?! How was the reunion, I believe it's going on right now, right? Or is the next weekend? I can't remember :) How was Abby's retreat? And I haven't heard from Amber and Cameron! How am I going to practice my tagalog if Cameron doens't send me letters? Haha One of the teachers here actually knows Cameron- Bro Mansfield. He told me hi from Cameron. There's all these connections here in this MTC- the mormom world really is small. Haha :)

 

Mom, thank you so so much for the package! My district went crazy over the taffy. We ate pretty much all of it in one night but we loved it :) Also, thank you for the book, it came at just the right time. This week was busy- Sunday was a great day, we did choir practice and then on Tuesday we sang in the choir at the MTC devotional. Elder Hinckley- President Hinckley's son, spoke to us. It was a really good talk. He told us that there is now 70,000 + missionaries world wide and that is the most we have ever had. We gave a wonderful talk- parts I loved were. "Be tough, you will be expected to endure it. Missionary work is hard. The Lord has chosed you to be a solider in His cause." I loved that. A mission is already hard, and I'm not even out in the field!! Hahaha but the Lord has chosen me so I can do it :) President Smith afterwards talked to us and he told us to watch for a miracle everyday and to write it down. It's helped me alot this week with recognizing the Lord's hand in my life and being grateful for all the simple but wonderful miracles.

 

This week started off hard, last Saturday, after emailing, we had class later that night and found out that an Elder in our district went home. It crushed all of us, I think we all were holding back the tears. I felt so bad for his companion, Elder Finch, our district leader, took it the hardest. It was so sad. But Elder Lindstrom had some depression problems that needed to be taken care of back at home. We pray everyday for him that he will come back out. It was hard for us but from it we have grown closer together as a district. We all love each other and take care of each other as a family. It's amazing how close I feel to each one of them after 2 and half weeks. But I feel like I've been assigned to them to be a part of this district family. Sister Reed and I are great friends! We're always laughing and goofing off, like yesterday, Brother Kovach told us that some Philippinos say farty instead of party. Haha they think we make the f sound with every p. We just died laughing. We also had flarp the other night and you can imagine how much we were laughing from that. It's great to have a kasama who finds laughs at the same things as I do :)

 

We've been teaching our teachers as investigators. I won't lie- teaching in tagalog is hard!! You know how to ask them these questions and what not but then they give you an answer and your like- Ano?! What?! And learning a lanugage is a bunch of memorizing. I forget half off what I was going to say when I get in there! Haha but I do my best. Something that I learned the other day though is that you can't teach without the Spirt. Thursday I was having a rough day, emotionally and just wanting to give up. We taught out teacher, Sister Briggs and the lesson went terrible! I couldn't remember anything and worst of all I couldn't feel the Spirit. Because of my negative attitude and feeling my heart and mind with doubts and fear, I was not able to teach because I did not have the Spirit. It was a lesson that I will never forget, especially out in the field. Sister Briggs afterwards, had us read 3 Nephi 12 together as a district and I think she was inspired to do so on my behalf. I quickly rememebered that those thoughts were not good to dwell on that they did not come from my Savior. During personal study time, I studied and prayed with all my heart and those feelings left me. It's amazing how those thoughts and feelings still come, even as a missionary.

 

But I am doing great now :) Missionaries have their up and down days, but you have to not let that get the best of you and pick yourself up. Working also helps, thanks Devon for that advice :)

 

Well, I will send some pictures in another email. I love you all and thank you for all your love and support!

 

Tagalog of the week:

Misionero po ako sa Simbahan ni Jesucristo ng mga Banal sa mga Huling Araw. I'm a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints :)

 

Muhal ko kayo!

 

Sister Burnham

 

 Ice cream!!!

 The District

 The name tag! :)

 The District again

 District!

 Learning Tagalog!

 Sister Burnham and Sister Hamblin!

 They're missionaries??? ;)

Philippines T-Shirts!

The First Email!

Nanay!! And Pamilya!!

 

I'm so happy that it's p-day because I get to here from you and many other peoples- I have SO many emails so I will try to write to you as much as possible :)

This week has been so great!! I love the life of a missionary!! I'm kept busy everyday, from 6:30 to 10:30, I am going and going. The beginning of the week we did a lot of role playing with our pretend investigotor. She is now one of our teachers and I love her! One of the lessons that we taught (and it's always in tagalog) I asked her to be baptized. The spirit was so strong in that room and I felt and saw a little glimpse of what it's going to be out in the field. And I was able to understand her for the most part and communicate back in very broken tagalog. But it was a testimony to me that this really is the work of the Lord and that the spirit will really guide me to what I need to say and to help me understand.

 

Our district is amazing!! I love all the Elders and Sisters that I get to work with each day! We have a lot of fun together and always are laughing. Like the other day, Brother Kovach, our main tagalog teacher was telling us how they point with their lips. So he had each of us practice and point in the direction that he said. Like "doon" (over there) or "dito" (there). It was hilarous, we were all dying from laughter. I feel like they are my family already and I don't want to think about leaving them in about a month.

 

I'm learning alot of Tagalog- so far I know how to prayer, testify, commitment, introduce, and I'm learning the structure of sentences right now. Plus we learn so many words a day and practice, practice, practice everyday! I love the lanuguage but sometimes it's hard for me to pronuciate. But I am doing my best and trying to be patient with learning the language.

 

Thank you for the quote Mom, I loved it. I'm so happy that I decided to come. It would be so sad if I missed out on this great opportunity to serve in the labor of love. I know with all my heart that this work is true and it is progressing so fast. There are so many missionaries here, dedicated to serving the Lord. There's a great army being prepared.

 

Thank you for all you're love and support! Have fun in Utah! It's really warm up here but the weather is nice :) Tell everybody hi for me and I wouldn't complain at all if you write me letters :) Seriously, receiving letters throughout the week is the most exciting thing to a missionary. Trust me :)

 

Muhal ko kayo!!

 

Muhal, Sister Burnham