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
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