Week 5 - Malaysia - Bumps in the Road

Elders Steele & Kampenhout

Aug. 17, 2010

Hello Keluargaku!!!

    So Good to hear from you. Emails really do make a difference :D Especially when you have weeks like we did this one. We hit some pretty bumps in the road of missionary work, but we just gotta keep pedaling. Right? The work was seeming to come pretty easy at first, but now that its getting hard I definitely know that this is work and not play. Really makes you appreciate the work you do do.

   In the first few weeks Elder Steele and I were here (before we moved) we spent alot of time finding new investigators because we really didn't have too many. We spent a couple days doing alot of tracting. When we go tracting here, we can either knock some apartment complex's in Desa Ilmu (our soon to be new home) or we can knock terrace housing in the same building (harder because people are more prideful) or we can go out and knock in Kampungs (villages in the jungle, further away). This has been pretty tough to do in the past because we are about a 45 minute bike ride along 2 lane highway to just reach out area, and from there our area is pretty big. Just along the main road its about 30 minutes biking fast from one end to the other, and from the main road it could take anywhere from 10-20 minutes to reach the Kampung you need to go to. That being said, we have to bike alot. However, once we move to Desa Ilmu (2nd move in 2 months) we will get ride of the 45 minute ride to and from our area, and we will have tons more time to teach and tract. I can't wait :D I will kinda miss all the kids who yell at us from the side of the road or buss and practice their English. It's always fun to see people excited to talk to us. Sadly we can't teach most of them cause they are Muslim, but! Boleh Tahan.

    So with all of our tracting done, we only had one real investigator who wanted to learn, but she dropped us this week after she said "reading the book of Mormon makes her question the faith she has in God." We were a bit confused, but she really wanted to stop. So we had to let her go. It was Sad, but Elder Steele Read Alma 8:12-14, and I felt alot better about what we are doing.

    We have also battled some sicknesses this week (none for me though :D) and our beloved roommate Elder Skanchy left for Singapore to become the new AP. He is my Grandpa (trained my trainer) and we grew really close. I will see him soon though when we go training in Singapore next week. They are completely changing the way missionary work is being done, so I can't wait to start. It pretty much is going to encompass more planning and specializing lessons for the needs of the Investigators. Its really easy to fall into "routine teaching" where you teach the same to everyone, but we are trying to change that even before we get to Singapore. It's been hard, but since I haven't been out long it will be easier for me than for others :D

   Another Baptism this coming weekend!!! The investigators being baptised this week are sooo strong and are going to help support this branch a ton. They are so ready. The other night when we were at Anita's (one of them) her kids were practing being baptized, and holding their hands and noses and leaning back. They learned from the pictures in a Gospel Principles book. It was really cute and adorable to see, but I had to sadly tell two of the three that they are not old enough yet. One is 7, so he will be soon, but the little girl who absolutly loves me is only 4. Shes awesome though :D While the kids are pretty wild, I absolutly love them. They are so funny, yet so naughty at the same time. One of our recent converts brother Aaron (3 years old) is the worst! He is always smiling, and the only English he knows is "B"BYE!" So he will climb all over the couches and chairs, mess with the fan, and when we try to quiet him in the lesson he will run away giggling ans yelling B'BYE at the top of his lungs. It's quite funny when you think about it. The thing to do is just ignore them, and then they will eventually wander off or get bored and listen. LOL. You definitely cannot be an up tight person and survive here. It's crazy. But you still need to have discipline. Its very easy to become lazy, but when we try our hardest, the Lord blesses us. Sometimes he gives us hard times so we can remember why we need his help and why we are here, but every time we overcome adversity, we are always better because of it.

  Still loving the work out here though. I am getting more of a hang of the language, and just yesterday when Elder Steele was really sick he had to rely on me alot more, and I taught about half of the lessons. It was awesome!!! It's quite amazing how at one point you just start to understand what they are saying. Its really hard to directly translate Malay into English because there are no tenses, and no articles (like the, a,) and there isn't really a 'to be' verb. Its funny. Its like cave man talk. It's funny. But as it comes it gets easier and easier.

  Well I must be going. I love you all and love to hear from you. I can only attach so many pictures, but DVDs with all my pictures will be mailed home, so they can be put up on my blog. What is my blog website anyway? Never really got that one....

   Nama Berita!!!

Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 6 - Malaysia - A World Apart

Aug. 25, 2010

Apa Khabar Semua!!!!!

     Wow. So I am currently in Singapore for a Mission Training Conference in which every single missionary in the Singapore Mission (except senior couples) are in Singapore and receive about 7-8 hours a day of training from President Clark. It is absolutely amazing. Being out of our areas is very tough because we aren't keeping check on Investigators and Recent Converts (our phones don't work in Singapore) and it is a completely different environment. It's very hard to explain. We are almost living in the jungle in Kota Samarahan, but in Singapore it is the cleanest and one of the most expensive cities in the world. Quite different. That being said though, the training we are receiving is 100% inspired from God, and if the missionaries open their hearts and apply these teachings to their own, I know that we will become 10 times the missionaries we are right now. President Clark used an analogy of this conference: We are the blade of a wood mill saw. We are shutting down the mill to sharpen the saw, and while none of the 86 missionaries in the mission are cutting any wood, when we return we will be able to cut the wood faster and better. We will have less flawed boards (Recent Coverts who fall Inactive) and we will have more Recent Converts as well. This training is absolutely fantastic. Next week I will go over some of the principles so maybe you can apply them to your own lives :D

   So another crazy story this week. The General Primary President of the LDS Church came to visit our zone last week, and she actually attended the baptism we had this last weekend. It was really awesome to have her there, and her spirit was definitely present, and she expressed her excitement to see more of God's Children come unto his fold. The strange part about this whole ordeal was how people reacted. The fact that she was coming didn't really bother nor stress me out at all. I was so excited for this night because of the people who were being baptized, not the people who were attending. I truly love this people, and feel that love grow when then come into God's Kingdom. This step is so essential and important it is amazing to think about. Many people get caught up in the details of this church, like the way this or that is done. The ONLY thing that is important are the ordinance that we all make. At a baptism, the actual Baptism is the only thing that needs to be done perfectly. At church, the only thing that needs to go perfectly is the Sacrament Prayer. The rest is all details. If you remember that in your heart, and tune in and listen to the spirit, and don't let anyone else disrupt you, you can have happiness and joy like you won't believe. Cause really, Christ overcame all of our sins and imperfections, and when we have Faith in him, Repent of our sins, commit to be Baptized in his name, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and Endure to the end (includes alot ;)) we can gain eternal salvation. That is my job out here on the mission. To help the children of God receive Salvation. I am so excited to see the Kota Samarahan Branch growing and I absolutely love the people here. I love being a Missionary. There is no other place or no other activity I would rather be doing right now. I am truly blessed to be able to serve the Lord at this time, and I have a personal testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and that no matter the burden, Christ can help us overcome all, and lighten the load on our shoulders. I have felt this great burden lifted in my life, and can only hope to help others.

    Another very awesome thing is how the mission is changing how transfers work. In many other missions, they transfer missionaries every few months to keep people moving and learning and growing. However, in Malaysia, without a strong ward or branch support system, alot of people rely on the missionaries and won't trust the missionaries right off the bat. This being said, they are now only going to transfer the missionaries in the Singapore Mission every 6-8 months. This is so awesome to know, because now we can set true long term goals and really work with members to strengthen themselves and establish good methods and relationships in the areas. Its also really good cause they don't really have maps for out here, and alot of addresses are not clear, so unless you have been to their house you don't know where that is. This makes it very hard to find people unless you have been there :D But!!! No worries anymore.

    So i don't have any pictures this week. We were sent on a wild goose chase trying to find an indoor soccer arena in Singapore where we could play soccer, but the woman who originally gave us directions gave very poor directions, and no one else knew what we were talking about, and they ended up putting us on an hour and half long bus and subway ride to the City Soccer Stadium and not The Pitch (where you can rent indoor courts). We eventually gave up and went bowling, which was a blast :D So long story for why I don't have my camera on me, cause we are stuck on the other side of town, and not even close to our clothes, supplies, and cameras :D

    Know that I love all of you, and hope and wish for the best. This mission is changing my life because I am allowing the Gospel of Jesus Christ into my heart, and it is truly changing me for the better. I know it can change everyone. I'm so grateful for all of your support and encouragement, and I love hearing from you. Love you ALL!!!

Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 3 - Malaysia

Aug.3, 2010

Ne Hau ma!!! (Chinese)

 

   What an insane week!!!! So this week right before we started our weekly planning we moved. It was insane. We spent two whole days cleaning out our apartment of all the stuff. I was packed in about 30 mins, but the others had lots of trin its and what nots to hold onto :D So it took a while. Then we had to clear out all the stuff that stays with the Missionary Apartment. That is what took the most time. Then on top of that none of the Senior Couples were able to help us move to our new house so we had to rent a truck to take all our desks and dressers and whatnot. It was crazy. Then we come to the new place and find that it pretty much had nothing. No hot water, No Cabinets. No AC, No Stove. No Gas. No Washing Machine. Nothing.... So we had to do some shopping and enduring through hot nights of sleep. It was tough. On Monday they finally got most things installed (only 1 shower works right now) We made due though. Pretty much sat in front of the fans the whole time, and while we slept. We had no choice but to take freezing showers, but it was nice cause that was the only part of the day we were cool. Haha. It was fun though. The fun part was getting gas. Here in Malaysia there are no Gas lines, so everyone has these little yellow gas tanks that this company sends out in trucks everyday where people can buy refills. The only crazy thing is that you can't buy new ones!!! We asked every store we saw and everyone we knew, but no luck. Luckily, we made a deal with our neighbor and manager that he woudl buy a new one (old customers can) and we would pay him for it, and now they can come and give us refills. YAY!!!! It was awesome. He's pretty boss, even though he only kinda speaks Malay and no English. Boleh Tahan though. (can endure).

 

   So we had a lesson in English this week. It was weird teaching in English, but it was a lot easier. I was able to say what I wanted to without having to rack my brain. I definitely felt the spirit so strong during this lesson. The Sister we were teaching will be hard to bring to the Gospel though because she is Chinese. The Chinese here are very hard to convert, but when they do they are almost always super faithful. A bit of a trade-off. This Sister is very very good though. She asked us, "So.....it seems that the Book of Mormon was meant for the American people, so what about China? Is there a book in China?" It was very good question, but luckingly that day I had read Mosiah 3: 12-13. Check it out, and remember that prophets write down their revelations in scriptures. It was awesome :D

 

   So we are having a baptism this week, and were going over the questions with our investigator (11 year old boy). However, the family had a neighbor friend who was drunk beyond belief sitting in the front room with them, but he was pretty quiet for a drunk Iban. When we asked the boy "Where do we go every sunday?" The drunk guy yelled: To Heaven!!!! It was quite funny, and the family started making fun of him like crazy, or kacau'ing him. It was awesome. I love these people.

 

   We are now finally getting settled, and while it was fun and crazy to move, it is definably more rewarding to be doing the Lord's work. When the Spirit testifies of truth it just brings a warm and comfort to your heart, and then when people choose to heed this spirit it brings you even greater joy. When the scriptures say "How great shall be your joy" they really do speak the truth. When people that come unto him because of your actions, He assuredly blesses you. I can testify of that. I love you all so much and hope to hear from you soon. Love.

 

Elder Willem Kampenhout

 

or

 

The Lord's Resolute Protector of the Cliffs (the meaning of my name :D)

Week 2 - Malaysia

July 27, 1010

Nama Berintah!!!!  (Iban)

    So this last week was awesome :D Every day is just rad. The last couple days it hasn't rained cats and dogs, so it was nice to come home dry (although still drenched in sweat). It's at least a 40 minute bike ride home every night. When we are in the furthest part of our area its just under an hour. Elder Steele and I set the new record the other night with 53 minutes from Kg Rembus, but I was pedaling in my top two gears the whole way. It's a long and hard ride. We come home, plan for a bit, shower and collapse into bed. It's nuts.

   So this week we went on splits with the Mission President. This is the first time he has come out, and he gave us as a companionship some training, and then went to an appointment with us. While the appointment was a bit tough (multiple investigators, tons of bugs, noisy kids) it was still really good, and we committed two of the adults to be baptized. YA!!!! We asked President Clark to share his testimony about baptism, and he gave a very simple but powerful one. They didn't even understand it (language barrier), but the Spirit was SOOO strong in the room you could have cut it with a knife. There was such peace in my heart I wish I could live in that state my whole life. Last night was one of many testimonies in my life that this is the one true gospel. It's crazy. I love this work.

   So, crazy things that went on this week. So I had my first lorry ride. A lorry is when you hold onto a vehicle while it drives down the highway. It definitely saves time, energy, and water. You grab on these little trucks with long beds at stop lights or down hills or right before roundabouts. They need to slow down so you can grab on. It's fun though. Wow. My first one only lasted about 5 seconds until I saw Elder Steele couldn't grab on, so I let go. Was immediately splashed by Elder Steele with a muddy puddle, and got another shirt muddy for a whole day. Ha ha! It was a small little truck. It was pretty safe. My second lorry 2 minutes later was a bit more dangerous. It was about the size of an American semi, but the entire back was full of gas containers that they use for stoves here (2x the size of propane tanks). I just grabbed onto the side and went for a ride. It was AWESOME!!!! He turned off after about a minute though, so Elder Steele let go of his truck and I let go of my big Bertha. It was good though :D

    We also rode a bus for the first time. And not just any old bus. A Sarawak bus. It's probably about  20 years old, and feels like you are going to die inside. All the seats are made out of steel and wood, as is the rest of the bus. It's kinda awesome. No suspension, so it bounces on every little pothole (and there are lots). It's really fun to ride, and really cheap (1.5 RM [.50 dollars]).

  I also gave a talk this week too. We had a tiny little baptism Saturday day for one of the Zone Leaders investigators, so they asked me to give a talk about Baptism, so I wrote out a talk and translated. I thought it was ok, but it apparently got around, because President Clark complimented me on it when we met with him. Crazy. The language barrier is still there. My Malay is getting better, but when people mix Malay and Iban it gets real tough to comprehend what they are saying. Just need to keep working hard.

   The mission is going super well. I love hearing from you all and love the emails I get :D It really is awesome getting emails from you all. I love hearing about what is going on at home. I may not reply right away, but I definitely read them every week. I love you all and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
     Elder Kampenhout

P.S. Malaysian and Iban kids are the naughtiest kids alive.