Sister Burnham: Finding the Elect

Family and Friends!!

Hello everyone!! Another week has gone by in the beautiful Philippines, I actually hit my third month mark since I've been here in the Philippines, can't believe that's how long I have lived here! It's great though, I love it here! It's become home to me in so many ways.

So just so you know, I won't be on next Monday because we have a mission tour!! Elder Neilsen of the seventy is coming to visit us and we're having a zone conference with him. But it's next Monday so no p-day. But I'll have my p-day next Friday so you won't hear from me till then! Sayang but I'm excited for the mission tour, I think it will help me a lot.

Anyways, things have been good, we worked hard this week. I love my new companion, she's different than Sister Malig but still good. I'm still trying to get used to her but I know that we'll become good friends. I'm grateful for how good she is as a missionary though, she came pre-trained and helps me a lot, especially with language. I'm very grateful for her because I've realized just how imperfect I am and the many weaknesses I have. Training is hard, being in charge of everything but hopefully I can get it soon and learn and progress more than before.

We've been looking a lot for new investigators, looking for the elect and we found someone. His name is Ricky and he's a friend of Sister Jane's. He's a single man with no family but I can tell he's been searching for something more in this life. We taught him the first lesson and taught him that he could know that these things are true through prayer. We kneeled and he gave the prayer and after he asked if what we taught him was true, he paused. And he listened. Never had an investigator before do that. After the prayer we extended baptism and he accepted. He even came to church yesterday and is excited to read the Book of Mormon and find out for himself if these things are true. I know for a fact that he was prepared by the Lord and that he is one of the elect. I'm so happy for him and see the light that he has in his eyes just grow more. It's amazing and I know that Ricky is finding what he's been searching for.

I'm grateful to be here and to find the elect here, in the Philippines. It's hard work and I'm being pushed harder as a trainer but I found some comfort in a talk by Elder Bednar, called "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality." He said- "[Christ] has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy in so many phases of our life.He can reach out, touch, succor literally run to us- and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do through relying upon only our own power." I know that to be true and as I've been reaching out more for the enabling and strengthening power of Christ, I receive comfort that I can do this, that I can overcome any challenge and do what He knows that I can do in my journey here in the Philippines as well in this life. As well as for all of us.

I know that the power of the Atonement is real and that it can change and strengthen us. I'm still working on it but I feel it and I've seen it start to happen in my investigators and recent converts. It's amazing and how blessed we are to have it, we just need to use it.

I love hearing from you, I miss you all but I know that we have a great work to do where ever we are. And mine is here in the Philippines for a time. How blessed I am to serve here and have the family and friends to support me :) Thank you. Salamat po!

I love you!! Mahal na mahal ko kayo! And have a great week!!

Love, Sister Burnham