Monthly Archives: September 2013

Good morning everyone!! I’m in the Philippines! After 40-something hours of travel we finally made it to the mission home! I don’t know what day that was on because of the time change, but it was a relief! When I got to the mission home everything got real. I realized that I wouldn’t be home or see people I loved and cared about for two years. I’m still feeling that way even though it is about a week later. I love this gospel though, and I know that I’m doing the right thing!

Tyler and his mission president, George Peterson, and his wife Kathryn.

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I know it will get easier, but I also know that it will get more difficult, which is okay. God gives us trying times so that we can grow as individuals. If I’ve learned one thing from being here, is that too much of anything isn’t good. If you are too stressed, it is hard to function, if you are too excited, people think you’re crazy (joke). You get my point. There needs be moderation in all things.

I’m missing home A LOT. I know that in no time I will be home and be missing the opportunity to be a missionary though. I’m excited to be here. When I got to my area, Lucena Third Ward, I couldn’t understand anyone. I think it is a different dialect. It is more simple than the “high” Tagalog that was taught in the MTC. I’m slowly picking it up though.

It is strange to be the only white person in my area. I’ve been stared at more in the last 6 days than I have every before in my life. It is interesting, but I think we’ve acquired some investigators simply because I’m white and can’t speak the language so they feel bad for me and let us in. Hey, whatever works right? Jokelong! but seriously it is a different experience being here. I miss you all and love you all! I can’t wait for the day that we will be reunited!

Love,

Elder Tyler Burbidge

I can’t believe that I’m almost off to the Philippines! My travel group leaves at 4:30 AM on Monday morning from the MTC. It’s going to be a long travel day, but I’m really excited to be on the move. I’m really bummed that some of the elders in our district aren’t going to be traveling with us, but that’s alright, I’ll see them when I get back.

Tyler’s MTC District ready to fly to the Philippines!

These last several weeks have been some of the greatest of my life. I’ve learned so much while I’ve been here! It is really incredible that I was able to learn as much Tagalog as I did while being here. I can teach a 40 minute lesson sa Tagalog, but can’t ask where the bathroom is at. It’s alright though, those things will come with time.

I’m missing home a lot, but I know that what I’m doing here and what I will be doing in the Philippines is extremely more important than anything I could be doing at home or at school. Sobrang excited ako to serve and teach lahat mga tao in the Philippines.

Posing at the Provo, UT temple grounds.

I’m scared about the spiders, tape worms, and lack of toilet paper, but I’m excited about helping people and learning a new culture. Jesus loves everyone, folks! Mahal ko kayo! I hope everyone is happy and excited about life, because you deserve to be. You have a special purpose here on this earth and can find strength and happiness through living it. Visit Mormon.org or email me if you have any questions about your purpose, your friend’s purpose, you’re dog’s purpose, you get what I’m saying. I’d love to help you find what you need. Mahal ko kayo! til we speak again,

Elder Tyler N. Burbidge

Editor’s Note (by dad).  Tyler and Hunter have similar travel itineraries to get to the Philippines.  Tyler goes from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles to Tokyo and Hunter goes from Salt Lake City to Portland to Tokyo.  They then will be on the same flight to Manila before they go their separate ways for two years!

Tyler in his classroom in the MTC.

Kumusta po kayo!! Mas mabuti sa MTC! Nagtututo ko po ng Tagalog sa araw araw. Nagtuturo po kaming mga investigator araw araw na namamahal po kaming ito! Sobrang excited ako to leave ng MTC!

It is hard to know what to write about because it seems like every day here is the same! I’m having a great time here and I know that what I’m doing is right! This is such a cool experience! I’ve met people that I know will be my friends for the rest of my life! On the spiritual side of things, I feel as if every day has something new to offer! I’m learning constantly new ways to feel the presence of God in my life and how to better share that with other people.

Elders Larron, Burbidge, and Rujke. Can you guess which two are from the Marshall Islands?

I hit a patch of homesickness this week, but then we taught a lesson to an investigator (roll played by our teacher) and it went away because I felt so strongly that what I’m preparing to do in the Philippines is the true and correct work of God.

I love all of you and I’m so happy that I get to keep in touch like this! Stay happy about life. There’s a plan for you individually and a plan for your family, both now and in the future. Keep a positive outlook on life – complaining wastes time – and go to work. This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I love this.

Keep it real,

Elder Tyler Burbidge

Dear friends and family,

Kumusta! (That is the typical greeting in the Tagalog language),

The MTC is flying by!  We are already in week 4!  I’m definitely getting excited to be in the Philippines within the next few weeks.  I’m really excited to serve the Philippinos and help them be happier.

Even though it is tough being a missionary, I don’t think I’ve been this consistently happy before in my life.  Having two, three hour long classes a day isn’t too fun, but I can tell you that those classes are helping me progress.

Tagalog is crazy awesome.  I’m learning more every day and I LOVE it!  MTC life consists of getting up at 6:30 a.m., eating breakfast at 7:30, first class at 8:00 going until 11:00.  Then personal study time until lunch at 12:10 p.m.  After that we have different schedules depending on the day.  On the average day though, we’ll have either afternoon (hapon) or night (gabi) class.  We’ll have “TALL” (Technology Assisted Language Learning), regular language study, and then gym time.  Oh – and don’t forget dinner!

Speaking of dinner, the food here is good…for the first few weeks.  Some elders have resorted to DRY CEREAL for all three meals of the day!

I miss you all!  Love ya! Mahal ko kayo!

-Elder Tyler Burbidge

Tyler at the MTC

Tyler was finally able to send us some photos of his time at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, UT.  He has been there almost three weeks and still has three more weeks to go until he travels to his mission area in the Philippines!

Tyler’s District at the Provo, UT temple

MTC life consists of learning the language and preparing to serve a mission.  The missionaries get the chance to attend the Provo, UT temple once a week and perform sacred ordinances there.

Tyler clowning around

Tyler is not in the same district as his twin brother, Hunter, but their classrooms are across the hall from each other so they get to see each other multiple times during the day.

Tyler and Hunter in the MTC