Monthly Archives: February 2014

Hello Everyone!

I’m doing pretty well and am really happy these days.  We had zone P-day today so it was good to see my friends from other areas in the zone.  The missionaries that were transplanted to my mission from the Tacloban mission (when it was destroyed by Typhoon Hiyan about four months ago) have now been sent back to their mission so that leaves me in a “tri-panionship” with Elder Lyon, Elder Bituan (my trainee) and myself.  I haven’t heard much about what kind of work they will be doing there but I would guess they are still going to be assisting with the work of re-building that area due to all the damage there.

My little buddy named Owen!

Hunter and I have been emailing pretty good.  I would like to email chat with him but it isn’t really possible because we are on the computer at different times and it is hard to coordinate our schedules.  He sounds really good though!  He has such a funny sense of humor that I miss.  I think that is why I get along with my new companion well because he does a lot of funny things like Hunter and I used to do.

Three “generations” – Me, my trainer (Elder Ano-Os) and my trainee (Elder Bituen).

I had a really cool experience this week teaching a couple who have one child already and another on the way.   We taught them about temple marriage first, and the promised blessings of being sealed together as a family for time and all eternity.  After we had taught all of the principles I still felt like I needed to say more.  I was prompted to get the picture of Hunter out of my book of Mormon and explain to the couple who he is, what he is like, and the relationship that we share being brothers. I then explained that we are sealed together as a family with my parents.  The only way that was able to happen was because they were baptized into this church and lived worthy of a temple recommend.  The spirit was very powerful and I know everyone felt it.

Well that’s about it for now!  I hope everyone is doing well back home and please know that I keep you in my prayers always!  Following are a couple more photos of me enjoying the missionary lifestyle!

Love,

Elder Tyler Burbidge

My Ward Mission leader climbing a palm tree.

Hello everyone!

The weeks are flying by!! This week marks six months on the mission! I can’t believe how much I’ve changed! I understand now what I need to do in this life and what I need to do to be happy. I’m glad that I get to share that with other people every single day! I’m becoming better at knowing what God wants for me and for other people. It’s awesome to see the changes that people make in their live’s to become closer to Him.  We had five investigators at church this last week, and four of them are progressing really well.  Please remember them in your prayers that they can overcome their obstacles and accept baptism.

Earlier today we went fruit picking with a member. We drank boku juice (baby coconut water), caught falling star fruit from 75 ft in the air, and watched a man “gun-fish”. I’m having fun and enjoying the work a lot. Elder Bituen, my trainee, is a very prepared, obedient, fun missionary and he is doing fantastic! I can’t wait to see how much more I can progress with the amount of time that I have left.

I love you all and hope that you are all happy! Have a great week!

Elder Tyler Norwin Burbidge

Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat! Kumusta po kayo?? Ang trabaho dito ay sobrang maganda. mahal na mahal iyon mga tao dito iyan trabaho ng Panginoon. hanggang sa huli ng linngo na ito magiging sobrang mainit. Bilang isang trainer ay sobrang mahirap, pero, sa pamamagitan ang pananampalataya at panalangin, naghahanap ako ng kapayapaan dito sa Lucena. Ako ay dito sa Lucena pa! Mihirap na naniniway iyan, di ba?? Pero, mahal ko iyan mga myembro dito at alam ko na mayroon ako ang layunin dito.

Have fun with that one, huh??? I’m doing great here! My new companion is Elder Bituen from Laog, Philippines!  This is the first time that I have been given the assignment to be a senior companion and a trainer of a new missionary so I am trying to do my best!  Elder Bituen is already a great teacher and is fluent in tagalog already so no worries here! We are really working together to become better.  CONGRATS TO THE SEAHAWKS!!!  That’s so cool! you know what else is cool?  Missionary work. I love, love, love, teaching other people about things that can make them happy at iyan paraan ng Diyos para sa kanila.

I’ve caught myself a couple times not being able to speak either english or tagalog, so that kinda stinks occasionally but that’s alright.  It means improvement is happening and that’s what we are supposed to do here in this life, is IMPROVE!!!  I love all of you and can’t wait to see you again soon, actually in about 18 months because i’m almost 1/4 through! Amazing! love ya!

Elder Tyler Norwin Burbidge