We've Been Robbed!!!

Kumusta Family and Friends!!

Haha Okay I better explain that story of us being robbed muna...before Mom worries too much. Haha So in our apartment we have our desks by this window that doesn't lock but it has bars so nobody can get in and what not. But lately the neighborhood kids have been coming to the window and talking to us. It was fun because I was practicing my tagalog and what not and they're cute. But one time they stole my pens and my chap stick. Haha So we just moved our stuff out of the way were their little hands couldn't reach it. Well...last Thursday I left my planner case on my desk...far enough away where the kids couldn't reach it. Well the next morning I go to my desk and wala planner!! AWWW!!! That is seriously my life!! It also had my license, my temple recommend and money inside it. About 400 pesos. Yikes...But I didn't care about the money, just the planner! Haha But thankful a tender mercy happened and we found my case by our front gate with only the money and my pens gone. I was then able to breath. Haha That's when you know you are a nerd when all you want back is your planner. Haha Well, I think the RMs would understand. But ya, we were robbed by little hands. Sayang. So we moved our desks into the kitchen and our kitchen table by the window. It's actually kinda nice because now I study right by the fridge and I can just lean over and grab some food while we're studying. Haha :)

Pero, best news of this email is that I still have Sister Temwaaka!! She's doing a LOT better. The doctor did say on Monday that she either has rheumatoid arthritis or bacteria. He gave her some steroids and that seems to be working because she hasn't been hurting the past 4 days :) Finally, we can go back to normal and we're a lot more happy :) She did get some blood tests as well to see more of the problem but I think she's going to be okay, I don't think she'll be going anywhere. Thank you for your prayers, I could feel them in behalf of my companion. Maraming salamat po!

This week was overall great because we had Zone Conference!! And I had a family reunion, my nanay was there- Sister Malig. She's a STL now! Astig siya! And my first born in the wilderness- Sister Maagad. I was the happiest to see her, I realized how much I had missed her and loved her. She's awesome :) And my pamangkin- Sister Japus. Lahat ang pamilya ko! Sobrang masaya :) And even Sister Wilson was there, I love her! I lived with her for 3 transfers in Mindoro, it was so good to just catch up with everyone :)

Now, we are just trying to catch up in our work that we got behind in and working hard on improving this area. One of the funny things about this area is that there are SO many baklas. Alam mo ba and bakla? GAYS! Haha They've actually been practicing in the center of Santa Maria for a Bakla Pageant. Haha It's just too funny. And one we OYMed the other day said to us..."Well isn't it obvious, I'm a gay!!" Haha Love it :)

Well, I love you all :) Thank you again for all your prayers. Remember look for the fun and good everyday. I promise, it's there. Even if it's something silly like gay pageants. Mahal ko kayo!!

Love, Sister Burnham

Trial of Your Faith

Hello Family and Friends!

So this week has been most different then most...a trial put on my companion. Last letter I talked about how we went to the doctors and her hands and arms hurt and are very swollen...well this past week has been the worst. Monday night she didn't have any medicine and it was probably one of the worst nights; she couldn't sleep and neither could I. The only thing that helped was massaging her hands and arms but that only helped for a time. Well, we went to the doctors again in Santa Cruz (about a little over an hour away) and visited the same doctor. Pero, he wasn't helpful at all. He's that kinda of doctor that just gives medicine and then wants to be paid. Doesn't really care. So Sister Peterson when on a search to find her a doctor and on Thursday we went to San Pablo...quite a ways away and visited a doctor there...much better. We scheduled an MRI in Lipa, way far away but that is where the only one is. Since we were so far away from our area and Lipa was quite a ways, the Peterson's took us in for the night and we went to the MRI the next day together. It was nice staying at the mission home...hot shower, American kitchen, couches, etc....there are some benefits for a sick companion. Haha But after the MRI on Friday we went back home and then came back last night, (Sunday night) for her appointment later today to look over her MRI. We hope it's not bad...if she needed surgery or anything like that...it's most likely she won't be staying... :( Hopefully it can be taken care of her in the field and all will be well. Just pray for my companion, she needs it.

The morning and throughout the week as I've been pondering on why she has this trial and the trial it would be if she went home, I turned to Ether 12:6- about the trial of your faith. Faith is trust and conviction that we have in Jesus Christ. And we trust Him and our Father's plan for us. No matter what happens, we should trust Him. And accept His plan for us and become more because of the trials. Which can become the trial of our faith. I know that my faith has grown more as I have gone through my personal trials and seen others go through them as well. This life is hard and we have trials but that was part of the plan, and it's what makes us become more, it molds us to become like our Father in Heaven. I'm so grateful for this gospel and for all that I have because of it. And I want you to know that I have a testimony about this gospel, it can help us overcome anything. I have experienced it and I have seen it throughout my life and more so now as a missionary. Now that my eyes are more opened.

I love you all so much and thank you for all your prayers and love that you send to me and my companion. I can feel them help me everyday. The power in them are real. That I know.

Mahal na mahal ko kayo!! Have a great week!

Love, Sister Burnham

"Mang Ignsal!! My favorite restaurant! Complete with Halo-halo :)"

"Many jeepney rides and becoming friends with the drivers :) Haha Loved this guy!"

"District Conference with the Peterson's...and with the Elders."

"Elder Javier...he's so funny. My favorite Filipino Elder. Such a flirt though...haha But I already am taken :)"

"Even though my companion has been sick...we had some fun :)"

Magandang Hapon Po!!!

Magandang Hapon Po!!

 This week has been crazy!! Lots and ups and downs but mostly for my

 poor companion...kawawa siya, poor girl. We're doing good in our

 companionship but she has been sick! She possibly might have

 arthritis...not fun. She has this really bad pain in her hands and

arms...it's not fun. We're been to the doctor and got medicine but it's not working...we'll probably go back tomorrow...ugh...it's about

 an hour and a half away. Sa Santa Cruz. But that's okay, I just want

 her to feel better, it's really hard on her. If you could keep her in

 your prayers, I would appreciate it.

 We've had some changes too, my new district leader is my tatay in the

 mission!! Elder Kavaca!! Love it! He's the one that bought my cake for

 my birthday, he's a great missionary. And I'm a proud nanay of an

 Elder in our district now. He's from California...and super big and

 tall white American...sometimes I forget how big Americans really

 are...haha It's going to be a culture shock to me when I come

 home...Haha :)

 Besides that, we're having some success in our little area...The lady,

 Sandy that I told you about is progressing like none other! She had a

 baptismal date for April 12th and she's already been to church twice

 now. I think she feels like a peace and a fulfillment has come into

 her life, she's all by herself and really lonely and this gospel fills

 in that hole in her life. It's been really exciting to watch her

 progress and seeing how the Lord has already prepared her and we are

 just simply the tools in His hands helping her come along :) We have

 this new family we are teaching, Melmar. We meant him as we were

 tracking, talking to people and he owns this little halo-halo shop. He

 was trying to sell some to us but we said we would only buy some if he

 would listen to our message. Haha It worked. And He's so interested

 now. So many good questions and they last two times, most of his

 family has joined in to listen to us. Hopefully we can get them to

 progress as well and things well work out. :)

 That's great to hear all about Callin and Tiffiani's wedding :) Super

 happy for them :) So many changes, life really just moves on without

 you. A year ago I went through the temple and I'll be coming home in a

 year. Can't believe it...I'm not ready yet!! Haha But maybe I will be

 in 9 months :)

 I love you all so much!! Mahal ko kayo!! Have a great week and give a

 piece of heaven to the people you meet each day and those you are

 around. I love you all!!

Love, Sister Burnham

Patience is Required

Family and Friends!

This week was a good one, lots more success in our little area. We have a very potential investigator! We've only taught her twice but she has accepted a baptismal date, came to church yesterday and had some friends there. I think they, the members felt kinda bad for not referring her to us earlier...we found her, Sandy one our own. She's super sweet and I'm starting to feel like things are picking up. We also have lots of new investigators and hopefully things will start progressing for them as well. It's a good time, lots of lots of work to do! Love working as a missionary and meeting people everyday. It's just fun :) No other time in my life except now can I just go out everyday and talk to people and share the message of happiness and love to people. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

We also are helping a lot of less active families out here...by teaching their kids who are 9 and haven'y been baptized yet. It's going really good and we're becoming good friends with them and they are starting to reactive. This one family, Saguinsin, I love them! They are so sweet and lots of fun...super poor though. I think this is one of the poorest families I have even visited and probably have the hardest struggles but it's amazing to see the gospel help them. Brother, or President, he is actually the second counselor in the presidency. (Ya, our branch has a lot of struggles). Anyways though, he's coming back more fully and we are also helping them work towards going to the temple, the same for a lot of families. It's fun been working with all these families working towards the temple. And as a share about it, I can't help but feel the peace that comes to my heart that I'll be with my family forever. And I want that same thing for them. As I use that eternal truth in my teaching more lately, it really intrigues people how they can be with their family forever and they understand more why they need this in their lives. It's really true about that saying about missionaries, that we leave our families for a short time so others can be with theirs forever. There's nothing more that I want for these families that I'm coming to love to be sealed together in the House of the Lord. 

Well, why this is titled "patience is required" comes from a quote that I love and feel like I have been learning a lot lately. "Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required." - Pres. Thomas S. Monson. Isn't that true? And I feel like it's something Heavenly Father is really trying to teach me right now with everything. I also read in the Book of Mormon in Alma 17:10-11 about the sons of Mosiah going out as missionaries and later the hardships they had. But later the Lord gave them success...Alma 26:27. I really love how they were able to overcome all and how at one point, they were about to turn back...but they didn't. And look at all the good they did...(the rest of Alma 26). I know that I need to be more like those missionaries. And especially through everything and being patient, I'm becoming the kinda of person Heavenly Father wants me to be. I'm grateful that I'm in His hands and that He loves me enough to mold me. 

I love you all so much!! I pray that we can all be a little bit more patient and especially see in life the things that matter most. Especially always becoming the person Heavenly Father wants us to become and working towards an eternal family.

Mahal ko kayo!! 

Love, Sister Burnham   

"New butt bag...love it!! Haha"

"Diola Family working with us, they are working going to the temple :)"

"Sis. T with Saguinsin Family"

"Jollybee with the district!!"

"Anna and Emmaunel and their little baby and little home (their home is the size of mom's walk in closet...no joke.)"

"Halo-halo day! (we had three :D)"

"Nanay Bining...member that works with us. So cute :)"

"Jane, our investigator"

"Church with members, love Sister Lyn Doila. She is seriously my mom here. (She's the one in the white shirt.)"

"Visiting less actives with the members, then merinda afterwards!! Maybe I drank a little...shh.."

"Zone P-day...going on this crazy hike up in the mountains!! But so worth it :)"