Malaysia - Week 62 - Good to Great!!

Sept. 20, 2011

Hello Family!!!

Kota Kinabalu Zone Conference 9.19.11

    Another crazy week in the mission field :D Wow. In preparation for having all of the missionaries from all over Sabah stay in our home, we have our air conditioning serviced to make sure they were up to maximum capacity. When they workers came back from lunch, we got on a subject of religion (a topic we love to talk about) and the next thing you know it, I am bearing testimony and teaching right there in the middle of our living room! They walked right into it :D One of them expressed desires in learning more, and we met him last night, but didn't get a whole lot accomplished because even though he said he read and understood the The Restoration pamphlet, he could not wrap his mind around the idea that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ together. We bore testimony and taught him but he just kept saying he didn't understand. It was incredible to feel and know that he was not open at all to what we were teaching, but that he was just trying to take what we taught and add to what he already knows, but only the things that agree. He finally asked for a scripture that proves that Jesus and God the Father are different, and thinking we didn't have any, he was shocked and dumbfounded when we told him about the story of Stephan having a similar vision in Acts 7:55-56. He sat there staring at the scripture reading it over and over again. Sadly, he still didn't do anything, but agreed to pray some more about it. I hope his true desire to find truth is not squashed by the Pentecostal Church he is currently following. But its all in his hands. Interesting story though about how some people are just not open to the truth, so the truth does not make sense to them. We hear about a lot of weird "visions" and happenings around here, like Jesus Christ appearing in a coconut tree and things like that, but in the end one should ask themselves, "What is the purpose of this?" God only works for bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. He doesn't just show off for kicks. :D

    The Conference itself was way cool. It was amazing to see my old branch (Sandakan) and some of my Recent Converts come to KK and gather together. It was such a joy, especially to see the Sandakan youth and leaders who had gone to the temple. There was a visible difference in them. You could just see in their eyes and by their countenances that they had be wrought upon by the Spirit, and forever changed by the House of the Lord. No words needed to describe what they felt. A smile and a mutual spiritual understanding was all that was needed. They now know that this is not just some club to go to on Sunday afternoon in a little rented house, but the Lord's Kingdom on the earth :D

    I would also like to share with you something I experienced last week. We had made a goal to have 8 investigators come to district conference, and we felt that it was something that was doable. However as the week wore on, this goal seemed more and more impossible. That Sunday morning as I sat in the back, I could not help but feel a bit disappointed in myself, and felt that I had failed in my duty and in my goal, and I began to wonder "why am I here?. At that moment, in walked our recent converts, and then in some formerly less active recent convert. At that moment in time I realized that I had done my best, and that I should be happy for the work which I have done here. The worth of Every Soul is great in the eyes of God. I may not be the crowd baptizing missionary that I want to be, but I know that I made a difference in those whom I have helped grown closer to Christ. I was overcome by such a peaceful feeling that I had a good job. :D

   I know that as we continue to look to the good things in life, on the important things, and strive to go from Good to Great, we will find a newer peace and happiness. It is so easy to get caught in the captivating thoughts of failure, defeat, and worthlessness. However, upon seeing the good that is wrought from every situation, and adopting that forward thinking mindset, we will find a spark in our spirits that was not present before. As my companion Elder Hawkins says: "I didn't lose the game, I was only behind when the clock ran out." :) If you are feeling that you are behind in life, remember that by returning to the basics, by Daily Prayer, Scripture Study, Church and temple attendance, adopting the attributes of Christ into yourself, you will will find that you are actually ahead :D

 I love you all and know that as we all make a greater effort in feasting upon the word of God daily, we will be endowed with power.

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,
      Elder Kampenhout    

Malaysia - Week 61 - Faith Finding and Temple Teaching

Sept. 13, 2011

Hello family,

    Wow, things have been absolutely amazing these past few days. After coming back from exchanges last week. Elder Hawkins and I set out and began our search for more investigators. It was incredible! We have always struggled a bit in finding new people, but they just seemed to jump out of the wood work! So many potential investigators finally we were able to meet, and we finally got in touch with a Tamil family which the Branch President has been nurturing for a while. They are good ones. It was amazing to see how once we set our minds and hearts and became unified in Prayer, things just began to happen. It was not any one goal, or the role plays we do, but it was the attitude and the mind set that we have been setting within ourselves that has been making the difference. It has become a filter in our minds, to always be asking about families, talking about families, visiting families. Its awesome stuff :D

    I also was able to teach about the Temple for the 1st time in a long time to our recent converts yesterday. The experience was a sacred one, and all that I can really share is that it began with a prayer of faith. Yes, Jeffery was praying in Tagalog, but at the same time I was pleading with the Lord that He might be able to help these people understand through feelings and impressions in their hearts the importance of the temple. They had never been there. They are so far away, but through the power of God, all things are possible. Even though the nearest temple was hundreds of miles away (if not thousands) and over seas, that little concrete room was filled with the Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, anyone can gain understanding about anything, whether they are there or not. Oh, how important it is for us to have the Holy Spirit with us at all times, so we can understand our purpose and our potential at all time. This reliance upon the Holy Ghost had never before played such an influential role, and has left a lasting impression. I know that the role of the Holy Ghost is an ever so important one. How can we even try to function without it? We can't....

   With that, return to the Lord's house. Often. You have no idea how lucky you are where you are. Before I used to think the temple was far away (2 hour drive to Spokane). Now....that is something I would easily do weekly for the outpouring of the Spirit and heavenly guidance that can come with attending the temple. I nearly wept in our meeting as I reflected on my times spent in the temple, and as I pondered and envisioned these 4 beautiful children of God one day journeying themselves to the temple. It is the most incredible place we can visit. How often to you set aside the world and the time to go to a place of celestial communication?

    I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, and He loves us more than we love ourselves. He is so full of Love...Love so great that we can't even comprehend it. Yet we can feel it. Every time you pray with the full energy of heart, every time you sit next to your companion in church, every time you read the letters God has sent you through His prophetic mail service, and every time you go to His home. There you can feel His love. It will be a long while before I have the possibility to return home. Take the opportunities I can't. You will never regret it.

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,

      Elder Willem Kampenhout

P.S. In one of the attached pictures is a Chinese woman playing with her son in the kiddy pool at our apartment complex. It began to rain ever so lightly, so she takes out an umbrella to keep the water off of her....as she is playing in a pool..... Ha ha! She soon realized her own silliness :D

Malaysia - Week 60 - On the Move!‏

Sept. 7, 2011

Hello Family!!

    So this past week I have been in my area for about....oh...3 days total? Thursday morning we had a combined branch activity (Picnic at the Beach!) in which we had a couple potential investigators come (who were brought by members of the branch). It was a good opportunity for people to bring friends to meet and fellowship with members of the branch, and see just how friendly and kind we are. We have families, kids, eat regular food, and love to have fun :D

Right after the beach activity we ran home, showered and headed off to Kuala Lumpur for another Zone Leader Council, which was incredible! Every time I go to a meeting, training, or church meeting, I always feel inspired and take something away from it. I always prepare myself first though, and expect to take something away. If you don't put anything into it, you won't get anything out of it. Also while we were in KL, I bought a painting. So pretty! The man painted it in 30 minutes while I was shopping, after I described what I wanted. It was amazing. He is definitely a talented man, and I was so impressed I was just so happy when he offered to paint one for me right there and them and that happiness just spread like wild fire. Mr. Pheng is one of the most incredibly kind person I have met, and could have gone pro in painting and selling his paintings for thousands of ringits, but instead chooses to live the humble life and paint so he can brighten peoples days, and spread beauty in the earth. Now that is a Christ-like man. Even though he was not ready for the Gospel, he is a good person, going about doing good things. The world needs more people like him.

      We then came back Saturday morning, and from there prepared for the baptism which was going on that evening. Wow....it was the most incredibly spiritual baptism I have ever been at. There have been so many spiritual battles, so much effort, love, and prayers put into this one day, and finally, Jacky, Jeffery, Nanai and Ariane were ready and willing to make their own personal covenant with God. It was amazing! The Spirit was so strong you could have cut it with a knife. As I walked around in my baptismal clothes, my heart felt like it was inside the temple. I felt for just a second, what Heaven feels like. So full of Joy, surrounded by family, and full of Godly Love. I could feel the Spirit telling and confirming to my heart "Well done my good and faithful servant." All of the failed contacts, the long hard days, the sicknesses, difficulties, were all swallowed up in these few hours. It was not like we did anything extraordinary for this service, all we did was get all of our ducks in a row beforehand. The plan was set, and it went very well :D The only disturbance was a bus contact named Sylvia texting me that she wanted to come to church the next day. Also Can!!! The Lord works in mysterious ways, and his work is the greatest one you can ever get involved with. You never lose, you only win :D

     After such a wonderful Baptism, and great confirmations on Sunday, these past two days I have been back in Sandakan, doing Zone Leader Exchanges with Elder Brown and Putnam. I was also able to meet Elder and Sister Lee, the new senior couple serving in Sandakan. They are the very first Malaysian Senior couple to serve a mission, and were called to the Singapore mission. They are from KL and speak English, Malay, and Chinese. Wow....they are a perfect fit for Sandakan. We can already tell that the number of Chinese going to church is going to increase :D They are very young for a senior couple as well, and have made incredible sacrifices to be here, but are receiving much. I was there when Elder Lee opened his call at the Missionary Leadership Training many months ago, and was very excited to see him in his assignment. The Lord definitely calls his missionaries. It is done through men, but it comes from the Lord. I love serving Him, and know that every waking hour and minute that I give unto him, I receive numberless treasures of knowledge, comfort and peace. This is the best time of my life!! :D

Your loving Son,
    Elder Willem Kampenhout

Malaysia - Week 59 - Hari Raya!!

 Wed. August 30, 2011

Hello Family!!!

    Things are going well here in Malaysia. The End of the Islamic month of fasting is here, and yesterday downtown KK (Kota Kinabalu) was absolutely packed!!! I ironically chose to start a fast on the very day that the Muslims were breaking theirs, so when we went into a jam packed KFC after District meeting, I was now on the opposite end of what had been happening all month. For those who don't know, around august every year the Islamic holds a time of fasting called Ramadan. They will begin fasting every day at 4am, and break it at 6:30pm. So they don't eat all day, but will stuff themselves at night right afterwards, and wake up at 3am and eat before the fasting starts. Fairly unhealthy, but they do it with good purpose. Many many restaurants are empty during the day, so it is mainly Elder Hawkins and I and the Chinese here eating lunch :D But its now over and we can all eat together again :D

   Some more amazing news is that our brand new Branch is going to have a baptism this weekend!!! Yay!!! This incredible little group of Filipinos has been through many challenges and trials, and been taught very well the doctrines of the Gospel. Each and every one of them is loved by the branch, even though there is a bit of a language barrier (they only speak English, and only a few select members speak English) but they are all so friendly towards one another. Each and every one of the four people who are being baptized this Saturday will be making sacred covenants with God, after having faced many life changing decisions. Upon reflecting, Elder Hawkins and I are just blown away at how far these people have come. They are so incredible and their faith is amazing. It inspires me to know that the Lord is preparing his children, and that the Gospel really will change lives if they let it :D

   Last week I also had the opportunity to fly down to Tawau, the edge of the world when it comes to missionary areas. It is so far away from the mission home, and has a little branch of its own and a senior couple and a pair of elders there. For many months at a time there is no senior couple either. Oh, what amazing trust the Mission President must have in his missionaries. Honestly, it would be pretty easy for them to do whatever they wanted, and get away with it all, but instead they choose to wake up on time, study the scriptures, and follow all the little guidelines they are given. Now, let me ask you this. How many 19-21 year old boys will pay to go somewhere foreign, and obey a voice that is thousands of miles away, and give up things such as movies, video games, girls, cars, music, and go and talk with people about religion? Only the sons of God. It is because they walk on a higher path, and obey not because they are motivated by guilt or fear, but because they love their Heavenly Father, because they love their families, because they are obedient out of the desires of their heart. In this world where standards of morality and family values are crumbling before our eyes, I have never seen such faith, devotion, and firmness than I have seen here in the Sabahan Missionaries. No one is looking down their backs, but they continue to choose the right when a choice is placed before them. They are Missionaries of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are doing their best to follow his lead :D I am proud of the missionaries in my zone, and know that they will continue to do great and marvelous things.

   "When obedience ceases to be an Irritant, and becomes our Quest, in that moment God will endow us with Power." ~ Pres. Ezra Taft Benson

    Sometimes it feels so easy to just let a little bit slide here or there, but I know that when it does become a desire to be obedient, one being motivated by the blessings which are bestowed upon the obedient, you really do have the Lord's promises and power backing you up :D

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,

      Elder Willem Kampenhout

P.S. Attached Pictures are of a Family home evening help for the YSA (Young Single Adults) in KK, and the second is a majority of the group of Filipinos we teach, sitting on their single bed in their one room home :D