Week 36 - Malaysia - Zone and District Conference‏

Wow, what a week!

    Thursday night last week we flew to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah for Missionary Zone Conference and our District Conference (since there are no stakes in Malaysia). It was very strange being away from home for 3 days, and especially in a city like KK. It is very high class like Singapore, but full of Malaysians, and still has all the little fun parts of Malaysia in the surrounding areas. It is definitely more of a tourist place and because of that has advanced in its appearance and technology.

    But that aside, it was incredible. The Zone Conference came at the perfect time for me, as I was just in need of a spiritual boost and clean up. It gave me a chance to really examine myself and see where I was doing well, but mainly where I could do better. There were a lot of things that I was letting kinda slip away, and Sister Clark really gave me some food stuff to work with :D
    But more incredible than all of that was the simple yet profound teachings that happened. Sister Clark explain to us that this life is a balancing act, and went about showing us that when we balance a book on 3 fingers, it is pretty firm. Those 3 fingers are the foundation of a testimony. Reading, prayer, and church attendance. If you take away any one of those, you may be able to balance for a little bit, but it will eventually fall. You can also even add to it (other fingers) by serving callings, attending activities, but if you don't have those foundation 3, you will fall. Its inevitable. Wow.
    Even more spectacular was what President Clark taught all of the people at the adult session. Many people feel that they have just sinned too much, or that they can't be forgiven, or that their self worth is not worth the effort. To clarify and expound and teach, he used a story (as the savior did). When he goes jogging, he always brings a little notebook and pencil to write thoughts in as he has them, and also $10 to buy a drink with at the end of the run. On this one particular day, it was raining and when he had a spiritual insight, he stopped and pulled out his little notepad. While doing so, the $10 bill fell out too and onto the ground getting muddy and dirty. "rats" he said, and brushed the mud off and put it back in his pocket. Later on while running, he had another thought, and pulled out his notepad to write it down. Again, the 10 dollar bill note fell to the ground and got covered in mud. He again, picked it up, cleaned it off, and put it back into his pocket. Why can't his money stay in his pocket? Towards the end of his run, he again had a spiritual thought, and when he pulled out his notepad, again the 10 dollar bill fell on the ground. Then he finally realized what the dollar bill was teaching. No matter how many times he fell out of his pocket, President Clark would always pick it up, brush it off, and put it back in his pocket. We are the 10 Dollar bill. We are of great worth to God, and no matter how many times we fall, no matter how dirty we get, or where we fall, Our Heavenly Father will ALWAYS pick us back up. Would you ever leave a 10 dollar bill laying on the ground and walk away from it? Perhaps think about the dollar bills that are waiting to be picked back up in your life. Pray about them, and how you can brush them off, and return yourself or others into the fold of God.
     In other news, the Violin playing at district conference and zone conference was very popular :D After all the meetings I spent about 40 minutes just playing hymns for members while they ate, and asking what their favorite songs were. They even sang on a few of them too. And then everyone and their dog wanted to try playing the violin. It was really fun, and many people talked about how the violin touched their hearts. Thank you mama and papa for sending the money to purchase the violin here in Malaysia. It has been priceless :D
    I love you all very much, and hope you are doing well. Take care and will hear from you soon!!

Your loving friend, brother, and son,
     Elder Willem Kampenhout