Monthly Archives: March 2014

Hey Guys!

I’m just checking in from Atimonan.  I am becoming more familiar with my surroundings now that I have been here for a couple of weeks.  I’m happy here, especially when we are busy doing missionary work!  I have realized that I am in a more remote area since mail from the pouch system only gets here about twice in a six week period.  Also, the district that I am in is spread out along this coastline and the towns with missionaries are about 3-4 hours apart, so we don’t always have District Meetings because of the distances.

Speaking of missionary work, last week was really productive!  We taught something like 23 lessons and found 12 or 13 new investigators, which is awesome.  I miss Hunter a lot and am glad to get his emails.  He is a good example to me of working hard, being happy, and being in tune with the spirit.  I think I took it for granted when we were able to be together all the time growing up and in college.

The members here are great.  They really support the missionaries – especially when we are being obedient and working hard.  Apparently I am the first American missionary in the ward in many years, so I hope I can represent well!  My “greenie” companion is going to be great – he has a sincere desire to work and be here so I am excited about that.

I always appreciate emails and letters to see how everyone is doing back home.  I miss you and think of you all often, but I am glad to be where I am serving the Lord.

Love,

Elder Tyler Burbidge

Hello everyone! Well the rumors are true that I have been transferred to a new city called Atimonan in the Quezon Province! It’s pretty far out in the sticks, but it is a small, quaint beach-side town and I love it.  It’s way cool.

Elder Burbidge near the sea in Atimonan.

Map of Quezon Province showing location of Atimonan.

I’m reopening the city, which means that the two previous elders who were here have been transferred out, and my companion and I have been “shotgunned” in without any overlap. I am also training my new companion who is just fresh out of the Manila MTC, so I am looking forward to that as well.  We are going to spend our first few weeks learning the area, establishing contacts with previous investigators, and getting to know the local members of the church here.  So far, the members we have met are super awesome – I can’t wait to meet more of them!

Our preparation day (or “P-Day” as we call it) was spent mostly with deep cleaning our apartment and getting settled in after the transfer. My companion’s name is Elder Tumanguil and he is from an area called Tuguegarao City that is north of Manila on the Cayagan River.   I really like Elder Tumanguil and am learning more about his culture and how he was raised here in the Philippines.  There is a little bit of a language barrier because he doesn’t understand my English very well and I don’t understand his Tagalog quite yet!  I am confident that we will make it work though!

Lately I have been striving to overcome some adversity on my mission, such as missing home and not being up to the task of missionary life. But don’t worry about me because I’ll get over it!  Whenever I have feelings of loneliness or discouragement I just think about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and my family and it gets better.

A recent baptism at Atimonan chapel attended by Elders Burbidge and Tumanguil.

Elder Burbidge out serving in “The Field”!

Well that’s about it for this post!  Thanks to all of the support back home.  I really appreciate the letters and emails.  My email and mailing address remains the same even though I have moved to a new area (the mission office gets the mail and delivers it to us regularly).

Love,

Elder Tyler N. Burbidge

Good afternoon to you all!!! how are you doing? I hope you’re happy!! I’m happy here in the PHI. We are doing great!! I will be training another new missionary probably for the next 12 weeks. I got the assignment today! I’m excited but pretty nervous because it will probably be in a new area too! that’s alright =) I’m loving Lucena right now!

We are teaching a family of 4 and about three or four other people who really are excited about what we have to teach them; that is HOW TO BE HAPPY. that’s what my life is right now! Helping others be happier. I love it. It is so fulfilling and I get to do it sa ibang wika! parang mahirap yung tagalog, pero iyaw ko sa ibang paraan!

If you ever have any questions about life, check out my church. We’ve got the answers your looking for. It might feel a little weird at first, but i can tell you that the ONLY way to TRUE and EVERLASTING happiness is through this church.

I’m getting pretty tan! I’m either good at the language or I’m getting darker because all of the people in my ward call me Foreignoy! (Pinoy is a term used for Filipinos hence foreigner+pinoy=foreignoy).

I wore my rain jacket the other day! It was raining and actually a little bit cold! it felt weird covering up the white shirt and tie! gave me a taste of a Russia mission…. not really. I hope you are all happy and striving to be better people every day! NGUNNGU!

Love,

Elder Tyler Norwin Burbidge