Monthly Archives: June 2014

Keeping the Flame Alive in Kawit

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Alright folks – my parents keep wanting me to write kind of a daily log of missionary life – so here it goes!

Last Monday was our P-day (it stands for “Preparation Day”) and we had to go to the town of Maragondon for my companion’s eye because he had some sort of stye thing.  So we visited the hospital there and got some treatment for it.  We emailed home and to our mission president while we were waiting around there, and then we returned home to Kawit. We started cleaning and then realized it was getting close to time to go work so we dropped everything and got ready and went to work!

Tuesday we had a district meeting with the missionaries that I am responsible for.  I shared some principles about preparing investigators for baptism and how investigators should be ready for the actual day.  For example, what needs to happen with the font, how to schedule an interview, etc.
Wednesday was pretty normal day in the life of a missionary here.  We had spaghetti and then our roommate made chicken adobo for dinner that was pretty good.
Thursday was Zone Conference, which is with a larger area than just our district.  It is taught by the zone leaders which are the missionaries that I report to as a District Leader. There was a lot of discussion about cleanliness of apartments, and then the other part was about diligence, my favorite!!!!
Friday we had weekly planning.  It always surprises me how fast weekly planning goes!  It amazes me how fast the days seem to go by here – sometimes they all blur into one!
So we are getting a lot of new investigators to teach the gospel to, and we are trying really hard to extend serious baptismal dates to them.  The chapel that we have been waiting for in this ward still isn’t open, so we have to travel a bit to get back and forth from our living area to our work area.
Sunday we partook of the sacrament, as usual, at church.  I’ve really gained an appreciation for it here on my mission. I look forward to it each week.
I don’t have any time left, but I just want to say that I pray for you guys all the time.  Stay in the right way. I miss home very intensely at some points, and at others I feel the love of family and friends so strong.  I’m thankful for all of the lessons that my parents and others have taught me and I’m so thankful for the diligent people, members, parents, and children of God that you are.
I love you,
Hunter

Missionary Work Continues in Kawit

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Hi all!  For this blog post my parents encouraged me to give a day by day “highlight reel” from this last week, and I want to do that – but I can’t remember what happened which day…and each week feels like a day! So at the risk of giving you a two month discourse on what has happened in my life, I’m going to go over some highlights from the last few months and I hope that suffices for this post!

When I first got to Kawit I had been given some challenges and a lot of things were happening that I didn’t understand. I turned to my roommates, my mission friends, and of course my loving family and my fellow missionary brother, Elder Tyler Burbidge for advice. I had to endure a little bit of hardship and learning curve, but I learned a lot about letting things happen the way that our Heavenly Father has planned them for us.
After a few weeks (maybe it was 2 months, i don’t know), I started seeing a lot of changes in the location where I have been serving. There had been an enormous fire that burnt down a main progressing area and forced some of our investigators to move out, stop listening due to broken lives and new priorities, and it gave us a lot of heartache to see these people suffer although they have such a great love for their Savior.
One day, out of the blue, we were given an opportunity to serve them and help them move sand to a cement mixing station inside of the burn area. Little to our knowledge, we were helping a less active member of the church who hadn’t been to church for 30 years. Just a few houses down there were members who hadn’t been to church in 15 years.  Across the path there are now progressing investigators who have accepted baptismal dates to become part of the Lord’s Kingdom here on the earth.
I’ve figured now that God really surprises us. We do not know his short term plans for us here on earth. Right now we just need to let it carry us as we do our best to follow him.
We now have a ward mission leader in the Kawit Ward and I am AMAZED at the change that I’ve seen in my mission, in this ward, and in my life while I have been assigned here. And it is in no way from my plan or from my ideas. God is changing this area. God is changing my life and my outlook on things. My perception of service has changed greatly from this experience.  One thing I can say is – Help Others!
If anyone who reads this wants to know more about, or has friends or relatives that want to know more about this wonderful plan of faith, action, and mercy that our Heavenly Father has given to us, ASK THE MISSIONARIES. I’m putting my parents on the spot too, but you can ask them about it if you aren’t comfortable reaching out to the local missionaries in your area!
I love being a missionary for this wonderful Church of Jesus Christ. He lives. He is your Savior and my Savior. He is the Son of God our Eternal Father. Come unto Him and he will pour his blessings in to your life.
Love you all!
Elder Hunter

Beautiful Sky outside my apartment!

Beautiful Sky outside my apartment!

Burbidge

Plugging Along in Kawit

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The Salinas River near Kawit

The Salinas River near Kawit

Hey all!  It seems like I say this every week but this is going to to just be a short blog post this time!  We are striving to introduce and feel the spirit here in our apartment and things are starting to feel better.  It has been interesting to observe the blend of cultures and attitudes between missionaries from the Pacific Islands, Philippines, and me as a guy from the United States.  I am working hard and trying to improve in my leadership responsibilities.

This last week we met a man named Willy – who may have had one too many drinks when we first met him!  So we had to be careful how we taught and clarified to him!  We taught him about Joseph Smith, the restoration of the Gospel, and gave him some pamphlets.  Then we returned on Tuesday to teach him a full lesson. His nephew joined in the conversation and the next door neighbor lady came over and joined in with the group.  It is a weird group to teach because of the age range and lack of a true family connection between all of them, but they are really receptive.  The 11 year-old kid, Kim, went to stake conference with us yesterday and he’s really cool.  He wants to be a soldier when he grows up!  So if you would keep them in your prayers we will keep working and teaching them.

I guess that’s about it for now – I gotta run but please know that I love and miss you all!

Love,

Elder Hunter Charles Burbidge

Kawit toll booth

Toll booth near the coastal highway in Kawit

Mission-Wide Conference!

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Howdy folks!  This last week we had a conference with all of the missionaries from my mission.  The conference was held so that we could meet and listen to Elder Craig Christensen – Presidency of the Seventy, and Elder and Sister Echo Hawk – Philippine Area Presidency.  It was really cool.

All of the missionaries in the Cavite Mission!

All of the missionaries in the Cavite Mission! Can you find me?

The week after the conference was awesome!  I went on exchanges with one of the elders in my district, Elder Haufano, who is from New Zealand. He is super humble and a great missionary.  He is one of my better friends now!  It’s always fun to feel comfortable with your companion, and I’m striving to make that work in my own companionship as well.

Sorry for the brief post but I want everyone back home to know that I love you and appreciate the support you give me with your prayers, letters, emails, and good thoughts! Keep the faith!

Love,

Elder Hunter Burbidge