Week 65 - Malaysia - Practice Makes Perfect

Oct. 13, 2011

Hello Family!!!!

    Another incredible week :D Things are going well here in KK. The Weather is warm and sunny (as usual) and the tropical storms are big and bangy :D They really do thrown down the rain. I wish I could run around and play in the rain. Maybe when I'm no longer "on the clock" as a missionary :D

    These past few days we have been in Kuala Lumpur again for another Zone Leader Council and for a Missionary Leadership Training. These meetings require a lot of money from the church, and a lot of time from the missionaries, but they are invaluable in the work. In the time we are spent "sharpening the tools" we become much more effective, and in turn can uplift and support and train our Zone, our investigators, members, and even our future families. I now see the benefit the Lord sees in going at great expense to make these happen. No one has to travel nearly as much as the Sabah Zone, because we have to fly from our State to the Malaysian peninsula. Everyone else takes buses. But what we learn, practice and use in our missionary work is so incredible. The things we learn really are needed, and every time we meet, we always leave better men, and better able to preform the Lord's work. I have heard others claim that they are pointless, but it really just shows that what you put into it, you get out of it. Look at Nephi and his brothers. They all went the same places, did the same things, yet one had a good attitude and practiced what he learned, where as the others complained and just kept on living life the same way. Which one would you rather be?

    I would like to include a little miracle that highlights the principle of practicing, and training. This past week Elder Hawkins and I finally got an appointment set up with a referral from the Larsons, and she right away wanted to ask us about her young daughters little problems here and there and went on to talk about how uncontrollable she is (like most of them). However, after Elder Larson managed to bring her back into the lesson, we immediately ditched our plans and instead taught her about how she can accept God's help in what she needs to do with her kids. Praying, Reading and Church. Once she committed to pray, we asked her when she would commit to pray with her kids every day. She said in the morning in the car would be best. So what did we do? ROLE PLAY!!! We arranged the seats accordingly, and when this mother began to offer up her heart for the first time to her Father in Heaven, she just broke down and offered up her contrite spirit. It was so powerful, and the once bickering family was united in love. And just from one prayer. Her kids are being better, and the Mother has began reading the Book of Mormon every day before bed, and she even came to church last week! God Answers the humble prayers, and Role Playing (even in lessons) is essential in this work. Practice makes perfect :D

    What are some things you can practice in your life? Asking your boss for time off, maybe asking someone for help. Practice how to give constructive criticism. There are so many things we can practice. But most important. Practice the Gospel in your life :) Practice using what the Savior said during him ministry :D It works. 

I know that as you continually strive to follow the savior in your life, you will be blessed in innumerable ways. Keep the Faith, and remember. CPR = Church, Praying and Reading. It will bring any dead testimony back to life :D

Your Loving Friend, Brother and Son,

                         Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 64 - Malaysia - Go Slow to Go Fast‏

Oct. 4, 2011

Dearest Family,

    I would first off like to thank each and every one of you for the Faith, Prayers, and Testimonies which each and every one of you have sought to develop in your respective areas of Life. Every one of our actions has eternal consequences. The story I am going to share will highlight what I am talking about.
    Just two days ago we were attending a Young Single Adult (YSA) Family Home Evening (FHE) which is put on by the Senior Couple (The Larsons) here in KK. One of the YSA gave a really good lesson about how she was so grateful for the one and Only True and Living Church upon the face of the earth, and then invited everyone to stand up and bear their testimonies. Right as we were about to leave (and go to another member FHE nearby) Elder Larson stood up and asked me to come translate for him. Oh am I ever grateful that I had this opportunity. When he stood, he spoke about his great great Grandfather, who was the first member of his family to join the church. Since that day, his posterity has grown to more than 30,000 people, most of which are members of the Church. When I heard that, I then realized how grateful I am for my own father and mother, who have had no easy life being a convert in the Church. However, I know just as much as they do that the Testimony they hold onto is worth more than the Kingdoms of the Earth. They are invaluable. Now I imagine the numbers of people who will reap the benefit of my Father's decision as a young boy to desire and find the truth. I know that I will ever be grateful for his desire to hold to the truths, but also for those who have helped him along the way. We are never alone at any point in our lives. There are constantly Angels round about us, bearing us up, seen and unseen. Countless thousands praying that our every action will be of righteous influence. And every time we make one of those critical, difficult yet eternally impacting decisions, our future generations leap for joy as they await their earthly existence.
     Now how does this relate to Missionary work and what is going on here in KK? Let me tell you. Long ago, when I moved into the then-disasterous KK house, I found a little piece of paper which is now posted on my wall. It reads: A Missionary gives up two years of his life so those he teaches can live with theirs for Eternity. That my friends, puts things into perspective. I often think about that. It makes me leap for joy when I see long time members still strong in the Gospel, but I also understand that there are those that fall into hard times and inactivity. Inactivity is not anything to frown at. It is merely a chance to help. God values them just as much as he does those who are active. Why shouldn't we? Every time we serve our fellow man, we are sowing seeds of righteousness which will one day bear fruit. Most of the fruit we will never see in this mortal life, but is it not worth the wait? I don't think that Elder Larsons Great Great Grandfather has any idea that his baptism would lead to a posterity of 30,000 whose lives have been blessed by the Gospel. We have no clue what our actions will lead to in the Future, but the Lord does. Lean on Him. Use His word as guidance. Follow the incredible counsel you have just received from the Prophets and Apostles (we get it in 2 weeks). And He will guide you :D Have Faith.
      The work in KK (Kota Kinabalu) is moving pretty slowly right now, but that's OK :) Because the Lord is moving right along with His plans. We are working our hardest and putting every effort into every day. The past few days Elder Hawkins voice has been gone, so I have had to do a lot of the talking, and communication, but I definitely feel that we are still united. He has gotten better at making the most of what he has said, and is a great Missionary. I encourage all to take part in the Greatest Mission on the Earth, that is the Mission of the Savior. Go forth and Preach the Gospel, and sometimes use words.

    Your Loving Friend, Brother and Son,
    Elder Willem Kampenhout

Malaysia – Week 63 - Faith Promoting and Faith Perfecting‏

Sept. 27, 2011

Dearest Family,

      I am delighted to hear about the news on the home front. As the great Master Oogway says (Kung Fu Panda): "There is no good or bad news, just news." It’s all about how you look at things. I guess that is a lesson I have learned a little about this week.

    This past week, things seemed to be going super well. As usual the beginning of the week wasn't too busy, but we had some good things planned out for the end of the week. We also had an incredible day on Thursday last week in which we contacted 2 little families living in a flat, and they were pretty willing to attend church. It was such an incredible little lesson and a Faith promoting experience. Our number of investigators at church on Sunday has struggled as of late, but as of Thursday night, there were 21 people who had a great potential to attend church. We were stoked :D However, from there things did not get any better. Lessons fell through, no returns on phone calls, and lots of "failure" seemed to happen. In the end, we only had one investigator attend church. From 21 to one.  Let’s just say I was a little disappointed. As my family knows me, I am a very passionate person, and when those passions fall on hard ground, I tend to turn inward and get myself all sad. However, the words and encouragement of Elder Hawkins were of great influence and uplifting to me, even though at the time they were given they were not wanted. One of the things we talked about, which has been discussed by our Mission President, has been the difference between Faith Promoting and Faith Perfecting.

    Faith Promoting Experiences: These are the great visions, the amazing contacts, the witnesses from the Spirit that the Gospel is true. These are the healings, the finding of work, the answers to prayers, the returning home of wayward children, the great Spiritual Victories that occur in life. These experiences build up our belief in God and inspire us to act with Faith :D

   Faith Perfecting Experiences: When we act with faith, and the results are not what we wanted, prayed for, or desired. This is when our expectations are not met, and our Faith in God is tested. This is the storm which throttles and thrashes the newly grown sapling. Many of us will ask, why? Each of these experiences gives us an opportunity to reflect back, and to remember that "but not my will, but Thine be done." These are the more important experiences. These experiences, if handled appropriately, will give us an even greater love for God. They solidify our belief in Him, our trust in Him.

    We all have both of these experiences. No examples needed. You know which ones you have experienced. Many of us remember the great visions and revelations given to Joseph Smith, and all of the incredible things which he did in his life. But how often do we remember the faith perfecting experiences he had? The death of many of his children, the death of his brother Alvin, his tar and feathering, which later resulted in the death of another one of his children, his imprisonment, and so many more. Which ones made him the Prophet he is today? Both. If we only had Faith Promoting, we would be like a soft piece of ore in a blacksmith’s shop, heated and mold-able by a fiery, faith building experience. Valuable, and precious, yes, but not very useful. However, add in the painful hammerings of trial, which requires much effort, aching and strain on our soul, but in the end, we come out as a beautiful, firm, and strong tool in the hand of the Lord. We will become as He is. :D

    The Hammers of Faith Perfecting Experiences will continue to come. However, as you spend the time to fuel the fire and pump the bellows by fueling your Spirit with the scriptures, pumping your spiritual muscles in the service of others, and praying for the guidance to do what is right, in the end, we will be pure, even as He is pure. I know these things are true. They are happening to me now, in my mission, in my family, and in my heart, and they will continue to happen. I can choose to be an agent unto myself and choose to see the end product, see why all of these trials are important, and find gratitude for them. Go thou and do so likewise. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it :D

    I love you all, and know that as we continue to seek guidance by the Spirit by daily prayer, scripture study and church attendance, we will be led in the right direction. :D

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,
       Elder Kampenhout