The Worth of Souls is Great in the Sight of God

Family and Friends! 

Another great week here in Calapan, Mindoro! I love this area, great people, members, investigators, and missionaries. We basically just have the best of the best on this little island and I love every part of it :)

We had a lot of changes this week, we got two new sisters living with us- Sister Wilson, from Logan, UT and Sister Dadivas from the Philippines. They are both awesome and it's fun to have sisters with us instead of just Sister Malig and I being the only sisters with a bunch of Elders! Haha So it's great and I already love them :) 

We had a lot of fun this week- especially with one of our families- the Ting family. They are just about my favorite family we are teaching. Sister Dorina is awesome! I feel like she is one of my many moms here :) Haha She's always happy and laughing and she loves and accepts everything we teach her. Like we taught the word of wisdom the other day and she accepted it right away, the gospel makes just clicks for her. I really see how we're not teaching something new to them, they already know this, we're just reminding :) Anyways, great family. I especially love her son Oliver. He is so cute and he wants to be baptized so badly and become a missionary like us. The other night him and his sister helped us go from house to house in our neighborhood sharing about Family Home Evening since it's National Family Week here. We had our little helpers which made the work so much more fun :) 

We had a branch activity on Saturday for Family Week and it was so much fun! I joined in a rawbutan eating contest. Rawbutan is this werid looking alien fruit. Haha but it's really sweet and good :) Haha I'll send you pictures. It's was just a good time and we even had some of our investigators come. 

So this week I had one of the best lessons ever! And the one last night with her was equally good. We were trying to visit Greg and Jena- that cute family with the daughter who got in a burn accident. But it's been hard. Jena isn't interested anymore and Greg is never home....sayang. But as I was playing/talking with Mary Jane (their daughter with the burns, I'll send pictures!), Sister Malig was talking to the mom of Mary Jane's friend. At first I didn't think she was interested at all and I didn't think we would return to teach her. But later that day, a lesson fell through and we went back and asked if we could share a short message with her. She allowed us to come in and we just thought we were going to do beginning teaching, getting to know her, etc. I asked her at the beginning how family was important to her in her life and she began to cry. She's been holding in all these concerns about her family and how she just feels lost in helping them. Immediately I felt the Spirit come and Sister Malig and I were able to teach about the Restoration by the direction of the Spirit. I don't even really remember what I said but I know that it wasn't me. And then at the end when I testified, she looked intently in my eyes and I was able to testify that all these things were true. And how it would help and change her life. And how Heavenly Father knew and loved her. And I was able to see and feel just a glimpse of how much Heavenly Father loves her. The worth of souls truly is great in the sight of God. I love those times when I can really feel the Spirit, and most importantly feel it work through me and see it confirming to the investigator that it's true. It's amazing. She's already been visited by Elders in the past (seed planted!) and has already accepted our invitation to be baptized. We're going to do a family home evening with her tonight and I think it's going to be great :) 

I love being here and I love being a part of this great work. I'm starting to catch a glimpse of just how much Heavenly Father loves us and especially the people I serve. And I'm starting to really see how the gospel of Jesus Christ bring hope and comfort into a troubled soul. How truly great this work is and how great is my calling. I still have so much to learn and grow but I'm so grateful for what I have received thus far. I hope and pray that my experiences will influence you as well. I feel like you're all here in the mission with me haha :) Which I believe you are :) I love you all so much and never forget just how much Heavenly Father really knows and loves you. I've seen it. 

Mahal ko kayo! I love you!! Have a great week!

Mahal, 

Sister Burnham 

 

Rawbutan

Working with Angelica and Oliver! 

Mary Jane (little girl with the burns)

THOR 2!!! WE LOVE THOR!

New investigating family!

What a Week!!!

This week was quite different because we hardly worked! Haha Not because we're lazy or disobedient but a lot was going on! Haha :) Promise. 

It started off with going to Lipa again for Zone Conference! It was great! We had a lot of fun together as a zone and kinda had a mini vacation. Ate with chop sticks at this Chinese restaurant (which I can do!!) and just played in the mall. I have some great Elders in my zone and it was fun to spend time with them. 

Zone Conference was amazing. I learned a lot! And Sister Malig and I won the Kwan Challenge! It's being tested on how good we've been in our work. Like "Did you get 70 OYM's this past week? Did you sweep and mop your floor?" Haha But we totally won and got carmel corn from it! Yippie! 

Then we came home on the slow boat, like 3 hour ride and didn't get home till late. Then we both woke up sick! Ya, not fun but it was a blessing in a way to stay home after all the traveling and everything. It's just never fun to be sick though. Sister Malig had it worse though. Yesterday we had to leave church early because she was in severe pain and just wasn't doing well at all. She even started to cry at church and the branch president joked around asking if we were fighting. Haha I said yes because I thought he asked if she was hurting or if she was sick. Haha I need to stop saying yes to everything because I don't know what I'm agreeing to most of the time! Haha But she's doing a lot better now. I even made her the best banana pancakes last night which I believe made her all better :) Haha :) 

But I'm doing fine now, just a little cough left but all is well :) We weren't able to work that much this week but I do have some incredible stories. So we were going to this one home that Sister Malig meet last week while on exchanges and he sadly wasn't home. It was raining hard and the neighbors saw us standing outside his home shouting "Tao po!" Haha I think they felt bad for us and invited us into their home. We just visited and shared a simple beginning lesson (how to begin teaching) and Sister Minerva began to cry when we talked about families. She has some family problems, mostly financial problems but our message brought her comfort into her life. I pray that she'll become a progressing investigator for us. But I believe that it was no accident that she invited us into her home. 

We also have this other investigator- Jun Jun he's about 19 and he accepted to be baptized. He takes in everything we teach him and he really ponders when we ask him a question or teach. I know that the Holy Ghost is testifying to him. He was so sincere when he said yes to being baptized. It's amazing how the these people have been prepared by the Lord and how I see this message and the Book of Mormon change their lives. It's amazing to witness and I'm grateful that I get to be a part of it, to be trusted by the Lord to be given these people to share this message to the people He has been preparing for me. I love it and it's the greatest calling I've ever had. 

I love you all and I'm so grateful for my family and friends back at home who love and support me. I couldn't do this mission without you all. And I feel like you're in this with me. Because I can feel the strength from your prayers each day. I love you and I miss you all! But I love you more :) Have a great week and always look for the miracles that the Lord gives us each day. 

Mahal ko kayo!

Love, Sister Burnham  

Caramel Corn! 

She is just the cutest missionary ever!!!

I for sure that that's Sister Malig is in the middle and Sister Burnham is second to the right! What a cool picture!  

1st Baptism and Planting Seeds!

Kumusta!!

So this week has been CRAZY with lots of things going on!! It was really good though and I had my first baptism!! Sister Jane, it was probably one of the most beautiful baptisms that I've been too. Very simple yet beautiful. And the Spirit was so strong, especially during her testimony. I was just so happy to be a part of her life and a part of her conversion process. It's true about how great will your joy be, I could feel that last Saturday night. 

I love Sister Jane's story too, so exactly 10 years ago she received a Book of Mormon from two Elders but nothing came from it. 10 years later, Sister Malig (my companion) and her last companion meet her in an OYM (open your mouth). She tells them that she already has a Book of Mormon and invites them to come teach them more. Well, the seed was planted 10 years ago, Sept 13, 2003 when she given the Book of Mormon. Then 10 years later she was baptized on Sept 14, 2013 and confirmed on Sept 15. Cool, huh? Those Elders planted a seed and with that she was prepared when Sister Malig and her last companion found her. It just shows you never know what seeds you are planting :) 

Our other investigators are doing good- I invited Sister Dorina to be baptized while I was an exchange with the Sister Training Leader. There's something about inviting people to be baptized, it's a time when I feel the Spirit work through me and I know it was as Sister Dorina answered with a sincere yes and had tears in her eyes. She's amazing and super funny, I love her! She's also our neighbor and her and her family are great. Haha whenever we have problems, like running out of gas, we run over to the neighbors for help. They are just great and we celebrated Oliver's birthday yesterday with them. Oliver is one of her kids and he's so good, he's reading the Book of Mormon as well and always love to read from it when we share a scripture in the lesson. They're a great family. 

I've tried some new foods this week...balot. Yep, the fertilized egg. But I couldn't eat the chick! And Sister Malig wouldn't let me because she doesn't like that part either. But it's weird! First you drink the juice of the egg first and then eat the chick. I just drank a little bit and ate the yellow yoke part but that was it. I couldn't do the chick. But the other missionaries and members told me that I don't become truly Philippino until I eat the chick. So sometime I'll have to. Yikes! Haha I also had squid which was good! It's deep fired and anything deep fried is good :) Haha :) 

I got to go to Training Check-Up this past week which was good but lots of traveling and lots of boat rides. Which I get to do again this week for Zone Conference. Yay! Hopefully it's not wavy again...may sakit ang ulo!! (headache) :( But it was really good and it was great to see my friends from the MTC. Just a good reunion and fun traveling to Lipa and San Pablo. But I think I like Calapan more :) It's starting to become home to me :) 

Well I guess I should end my letter but something that I wanted to share that Sister Malig shared with me last night. I was just getting frustrated and discouraged about the language and wanted to break down last night. She pulled out her scriptures and shared 1 Nephi 3:15 with me. And said "Don't give up, no matter what." I won't. I know that coming here wasn't by accident and that the Lord didn't call me here to fail and he knows that I can do it. Even to speak tagalog. I won't come home till I've accomplished what the Lord has given me to do. It's not easy but I know that He'll make the way for me and give me the strength to climb this mountain. And I know that He will for you in any of your challenges and trials in this life because it's promised. 

I love you all and thank you for your prayers, love and support. I know that they help me everyday and I appreciate them so much. I'm praying for you all as well. 

Mahal ko kayo!

Love, Sister Burnham 

 

Ewwwww.....

 I showed this picture to my roommate and she just about lost her breakfast! GROSS!!!

 



You Can't Teach Without the Spirit!

Family and Friends!

Another week has flown by for me! I can't believe that I'm emailing again on p-day because this past week went by so fast!! I'll actually reach my month mark in the Philippines on Saturday!! Crazy huh? I'll be home before you know it! Haha :) 

First off I got your packages mom!! You sent two, right? Because that's how many I got! Thank you so so much for them! Haha the toliet paper made me laugh. Thank you for that, I've found it here in the grocery store here so all is well but it's good to have anyways. And I'll save it- who knows if my next area has any toliet paper. Haha Also I loved the chips and salsa and fixings!! Totally knew that was Devon's idea- you're right, you've got my back! Haha Anyways, thank you :) Oh and the monkey butt powder was funny...clever...haha :) 

So this past week was fun! I feel like I've gotten to know my district better and know the members in the branch better. We had a district meeting on Wednesday and afterwards we ate at this restaurant where they give unlimited rice. So much rice!! I was good with what I had but Elder Sasagi kept calling them over to give me more and more rice. But everytime he did I make them give him more rice. Haha we were toppled with rice on our plates!! Gotta love rice here in the Philippines! I think I'll be so used to eating it with every meal that by the time I come home I won't be able to break that habit. Haha :) 

I love the branch I'm over- they are so great and they all love being my tagalog teachers. Haha It's fun to get to know them and to work with a few of them in lessons we teach. We even had an ward missionary council activity today on the beach with them and it was so much fun! I've taught them "dip dip dip" and we were all dying laughing. I love how Philippinos find joy in the simple things of life. And how they are always happy despite any problems they have. I learn so much from them everyday. It was fun to hang out with them on the beach this morning, but it was hard to not be tempted to dive in the ocean. Haha  

So Sister Jane's baptism is this Saturday- she's so excited. She had to be interviewed by Pres. Peterson yesterday because of abortion she had two years ago. (They couldn't afford to have anther kid). This though has caused her grief and pain for years. But because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and through the power of repentance and baptism- she can be freed from this. And already she has through repentance. It's amazing to see the change take place in her life and I think we'll see even more after her baptism. 

I could really feel the Spirit speak to another investigator we taught the other day about the Plan of Salvation. There was a moment of silence during the lesson after Sister Malig asked Justin a question but it wasn't uncomfortable. Because the Spirit was speaking to him. And I could tell that it was confirming in his heart that our words were true. I realized again how I'm not in control of the teaching. It's the Holy Ghost and it has amazing power that I will never have. It's so important in our teaching because it's not us that convert people, it's the Holy Ghost. 

Well, this next week is going to be another fast week for me because on Wednesday I am heading to the mission home for training check up! Woo hoo! Boat ride!! Hopefully I don't get sea sick again. Haha I kinda did last time but I think it was because I had been traveling for the past three days. But I think I'll be ok, just as long as it doesn't storm. And also I'm going on splits with the Sister Training Leaders. I'm a little bit nervous because I feel like I still don't know what I'm doing. Haha I'll just be praying that everything goes well with that. And it will be weird to be away from my companion! We have a lot of fun together and she's a great Nanay. But something exciting though that's happening next transfer is that we're getting another set of sisters in Calapan! Their going to be living with us which will make living quarters a little more crowded but I'm excited to have another set of friends and it will be nice to not be the only Sisters here. Haha the Elders are fun and all but I miss Sisters. Haha :)  

Mahal ko kayo! I love you all! Thank you for your love and prayers. I can really feel the power from them everyday and it makes all the difference. We missionaries need them, especially because this is a very important work and we can't do it alone. And I know that the power from your prayers helps me through everyday. Salamat :) Take care and I'll hear from you next week!

Mahal, Sister Burnham 

 

What!?!

Sister Malig has got to be the cutest companion ever!

Gross!!!