Malaysia Week 13‏

Oct. 12, 2010

 

Hello Everyone! <----English? Odd....

 

   Malaysia is doing soooo awesome :D We just had our first Sacrament in the new church in Batu  7 (7 Mile) or Kota Sentosa. Here in Malaysia they like to take off their shoes before they enter houses or respected areas, so when everyone showed up for church they ALL took off their shoes outside the front. It was really cool to see. Talk about a shoeless sacrament :D It was really fun. The new building is so clean and new and beautiful. While there are some growing pains with figuring out where classes are and what not and who goes where, it was still a very wonderful sunday. Another bonus is that we can take the bus to church!!! YAY! No more 45 minute bike ride in the sweltering heat and showing up drenched with rain or sweat. It is awesome :D

 

   This last weekend we also had another branch activity!!! WooT! This time we took a 2 hour bus ride and went to the Pantai Siar (Siar Beach) and played in the Ocean, played soccer on the beach, ate delicious food, and played tug of war. It was absolutly amazing. The beach is so shallow it was about a 5 minute walk on the sand to reach the water in the morning. It was so much fun though. Tons of fish and crabs were stuck in little pools of water, and all the little kids were running around grabbing them and putting them in bottles to take back home (doing what I have no idea). We as missionaries were not allowed to swim, but we could walk around up to our knees. It was really fun running after and chasing the kids and playing soccer on the beach. We had a quick impromptu keep-away game with Orang Tua (Old guys) vs. budak (kids). We played with the old guys, and did well for a while. Konok our 60+ year old recent convert even played some soccer with us. He is still on his game :) He was quite the respected soccer player back in the day, and MVP of his village. That was a LONG time ago though. He can't run, but his passing and dribbling was still in good form.

   The bus we took was absolutely packed, and some people even had to drive cars to make it there. Two of our married investigators who came (Jonathan and Jaeclyn) are still very young and love the missionaries. They were playing with us on the beach, and then would go sit and walk and talk with each other. With the sun rising in the morning, it seriously felt like a scene out of a movie, as those two were so madly in love :D Jaeclyn is moving off to Nursing School in a few days and is going to miss her Military husband like crazy. She plans on being baptized in Bintulu (where she's going) the same time Jonathan gets baptized here. I can't wait :D

   One thing I have been learning out here is how the gospel helps people grow closer together. Many couples that we start teaching are very passive towards their spouse when we start teaching them, but by the time they have been members for a little bit, you can just see the increased love they have for each other. They hold hands, and are so kind to each other where as before that wasn't there at all. It is absolutely amazing. I love this gospel and how it draws people closer together. Everything really does get better through Jesus Christ.

    We also got a chance to go visit some long time members for their birthday party where they only invited their close friends and family. While only a small portion of the people there were members, everyone in the room had such a strong love for eachbother, and you could totally feel it. My heart just wanted to burst I felt so much love with this group of people. Seeing the mother and daughter cook together, the grandson singing songs with friends, the father and I sitting on the couch talking about life. It was so wonderful. I love my family :D

   Well I must be going. Know that I am still doing well, healthy, hearty and strong. Not sick yet. Haven't been hit by a car yet. :)

 

Your loving missionary,

     Elder Willem Kampenhout

 

P.S.

The picture sent are a couple of nice sunsets here in Malaysia. Seriously the most beautiful I have ever seen.

 

One is of a very dark rain cloud we got here. That was about 5 o clock in the afternoon. Summer time. Yikes!!!!

 

The other is Elder Steele and I standing next to the Governor of Sarawak. He tried to hold my hand :D Talk about an honor to meet the man. He used to be Christian too.

 

Elder Kampenhout