Happy Earth Hour!

This week was pretty dang fun.  We had no idea what to do so we just prayed for guidance and we were able to find some people to teach!  Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to email so i'm just going to send pictures and explain them!

We went to a place called Rizal park which is named after a man named Jose Rizal who is considered a national hero!  This is supposedly where he was shot so I wasn't sure if I was supposed to smile or be sad or what but hey might as well.  Also while taking this picture I had two americans take pictures with me because they heard my American accent and it turns out they're from Salt Lake!!!! 

Pretty fun monument we found in celebration of National Woman's month here! ​

​Also something fun that happened this week is there was an event called Earth hour where the Philippines turned off all lights for one hour to preserve energy and it looked really cool actually all you could see was the headlights of cars!  I would have taken a picture but since it was so dark you could probably just close your eyes and get the same effect... Well that's all for now I love you all have a great week!

Elder "Bro"deos​

Transfer 1

Time is so weird when you're serving a mission.  It feels like it goes by so dang fast while at the same time is goes by extremely slow.  It's already the end of my first transfer and I feel like i've been here for one week.  

This week we were able to progress all of our investigators surprisingly because usually there's usually a few who try to avoid us and don't want to meet with us.  On Saturday we were able to attend the Lopez family's baptism.  They are a family in our ward that has been interested in the church for quite some time now.  I had the opportunity to teach them when going on exchanges with Elder Sanchez, our district leader.  They have been waiting to be baptized for quite some time now and it has been so enjoyable to watch them progress over these last few weeks.  It was such an amazing experience to see them all act on their desire to follow Christ.  After their baptism they all bore strong testimonies and you could really feel the spirit testifying of the truthfulness of the ordinance of baptism.

Today's Philippines culture lesson is about..............THE JEEPNEY!

These chubby little buses are the main source of transportation to get around the city!  They are able to hold as many people as will fit in them.  No joke you'll have strangers sitting on the floor and riding on the back of them these things are amazing.  They cost 8 pesos to ride which is about the equivalent of 15 cents.  These things are great I wish we had these in America.

Also here is a picture of my sidekick here in the Philippines!  In celebration of Moana becoming an approved movie in my mission!!!!

That's all for right now I hope you all have an amazing week!!

Elder Burdeos

This Place Is Fun

I'm going to start of this email by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  First to my wonderful sister Erin who was birthed on the 14th!  Also exciting news she just got accepted into Disney College so that's the best birthday gift for her!!  Second Baesen Rollo's birthday is on the 18th!  Hannah Brown and Seth Vanmaren too dang everybody has a birthday this month.  Also the new Beauty and the Beast is coming out sometime this month so i'm extremely jealous of anyone who will have the chance to see it :-|

This week has been very difficult but worth it.  One of our progressing investigators, Tess, told us that she did not want to continue learning from us.  That came as a shock from us because she was progressing so well, attending church and keeping the Word of Wisdom.  Apparently she heard from one of her best friends that the Mormon church is similar to a cult and an organization.  We were able to resolve her concerns and she agreed to continue learning from us.  However, she hasn't been progressing as well as she had been so hopefully we'll be able to see some progress.  I extended a baptismal invitation to one of our "golden" investigators.  A golden investigator is a person whom we know is ready for this Gospel.  They show signs of progress and engagement in our lessons and I know that they are put in front of us by the Lord Himself.  We just have to be willing to find them.  His name is Brother Mac.  He was born catholic but went inactive after moving away from his family.  He wants direction in his life and he believes this church is where to find that direction.  He accepted the invitation to be baptized and he will prepare for April 15th!  It's a great feeling to take part in such moments like these.  

This is basically what our area looks like in Green Hills, the poorest part of our area.  Even though the houses and people are poor, they are the most happy people you will ever meet.  

The Philippines is probably the funniest place and i'm going to start including some funny culture facts into some of my emails... Starting next week haha

I love you all THE CHURCH IS TRUE

-Elder Burdeos

This Place Is So Unique

Hello loved ones back home!  We are working dang hard here in the Philippines.  I have never walked so much in my life I feel like i'm going to collapse every night.  It is really hot here AND IT'S NOT EVEN SUMMER.  I think this might be the end, i'm going to melt but just know I died a happy puddle.  Well anyways this week flew by really I feel like i'm time travelling sometimes. We traveled to Makati to have new missionary follow ups and I learned that I have the smallest transfer group ever.  It's just me.  I literally walked in there and it was me, President Ostler, and Elder Desabille my companion.  President Ostler said they usually have it at a chapel and it's a big event but since it was just me he gave us one on one coaching in the mission home.  It was awesome!  Getting tutored by a mission president is such a great experience because it gives you the opportunity to receive helpful advice and guidance.  Throughout the week we have been able to find some really solid investigators and those whom we have extended baptismal dates to are preparing for their baptisms which has been such a blessing.  God has miracles in store for us we just have to be willing to trust Him and His plan.  We do this by working our hardest every day!  

     This area is so interesting because it ranges from some of the poorest houses I have ever seen to houses that I would dream to live in.  I'll be sure to take more pictures of my area to really show you how cool this place is.  I didn't get to take many pictures this week so please enjoy this one of my handsome companion holding puppies at a member's house.

Also here is a picture I took while driving to Makati city. 

Sorry I didn't get too in depth with my email this week i'm still deciding how I want to format these.  Also to those who came through with sending me packages of food, you know who you are, I love love love love you thank you so much.  I love you all have an amazing week!!!

Elder Burdeos

Elder David A. Bednar

What a spiritual week this was!  The culture is starting to sink in and i'm starting to adjust little by little.  Our mission was extremely blessed to be able to host a visit from Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  

He spake to us at the Buendia Chapel which is actually the very first chapel ever established in the Philippines.  As he spoke to us he talked with such passion and I was able to tell that he is not just some random guy who we claim to be a leader.  He is a man called of God to help guide and teach us with the power of the spirit.  He allowed us to raise our hands and he would answer any questions that we had regarding the gospel and his answers were always exactly what we as missionaries needed to hear.  I also had the opportunity to meet every missionary serving in the Philippines Manila Mission and I feel very blessed, they are very obedient and hard working.  The majority of us are Filipino and Polynesian.

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​While taking this picture waiting for Elder Bednar to arrive our whole mission sang a few hymns and it was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had.  Being in a room of servants of the Lord who are so in tune with the spirit and feeling the power in the room was indescribable.  Also the amount of talent found within our mission is off the charts.  Almost every single one of us has an incredible voice (I say almost every single one because I am the exception).  If ever you feel down or like there is no way to carry on, turn to your Heavenly Father.  Say a prayer or sing a hymn.  I can promise you that with the help and comfort of Heavenly Father always being there for you, you will be able to carry on and overcome ANYTHING.  

Elder Desabille and I dialed in on two investigators this week who have not been progressing as well as we would hope.  We planned on teaching them the Plan of Salvation and hopefully extending a commitment to attend church with us.  The moment we walked in, Tess immediately starting talking about baptism and asking questions regarding the topic.  We answered her questions and explained to her the importance of baptism and we were prompted to extend the commitment to prepare for baptism on March 18th so we did and they accepted!  We will now do everything that we can to help them prepare!  It felt amazing to see children of God progress and take that leap of faith to be baptized in His name in order to return to Him.  I'm very grateful to be here as a missionary and for this work, I can't wait to see many more souls accept this gospel and come unto Him!!  Love you all hope you have an amazing week!​

Elder Burdeos

Parañaque West

This week flew by!  I've been adjusting to the in field schedule and I really enjoy it actually.  

The Philippines is basically just one giant party everyone is always outside playing, dancing, and just enjoying life!  It is an extremely different culture here which I will go more into depth in later emails.  Right now we are focusing on 6 investigators.  We are hoping to gain more by following those who were discontinued in our area book for no reason.  The missionaries in this area before were not the best apparently.  We had 2 of our investigators Tess and Roland Montilla attend a temple trip with us.  We rode in a jeepney for 2 hours, got to the temple in the pouring rain, then rode back for another 3 hours because of traffic.  Terrible yet they were able to feel the spirit and really enjoyed it.  We're hoping to give them a baptismal date this week.  They've been attending church weekly since we've met with them.  I can already tell it's going to be an amazing time here in the Philippines.

Here are some pictures of my area i'll have more for you next week!!  I love you all be safe and the church is true!

Elder Burdeos

Welcome to Manila

I'm alive!!!!!  I felt the need to state that since it's been about 18 days since you last heard from me.  It has been 18 of the most hectic days of my life! We arrived safely in Manila on February 3rd.  Since our flight left Salt Lake City at around 11:30 pmto Hong Kong, I was able to successfully sleep through all of February 2nd!!!  It was the WORST flight of my life.  I was against a wall and my seat didn't recline so it was 15 hours of sleeping completely straight up.  As soon as we arrived here in Manila I started sweating hard and it was hard to breathe because of the humidity.  We got in the car to the MTC and held on for dear life.  There is 1 rule to driving in Manila and it's: don't crash.  Many instances I thought we were going to drive right through the cars in front of us but luckily we made it to the MTC safely.  We stayed at the Manila MTC for 5 days and it felt like a vacation.  We had the chance to go out and proselyte with some of the missionaries serving in Quezon City.  We also had the chance to visit the Manila Temple.  It is absolutely beautiful and it was amazing to be able to go through it.  I think that my favorite part of my MTC stay was being able to meet my Grandma for the first time and some of my cousins.  I had to say even more heart breaking goodbyes to my companions and to my district.  I left for the Manila mission home at 6 am on Wednesday and met President and Sister Ostler for the first time.  They are the coolest mission presidents ever and it makes me sad they will be leaving in July.  We had orientation and I received my first area assignment, Parañaque West!  My companion is native Filipino, Elder Desabille.  Since then i've just been adjusting to the new culture and schedule!! It Really is a whole different world here!

Love you all see you next week!

Elder Burdeos​