Week 70 - Malaysia - A very Great-Full day :)‏

Nov. 24, 2011

So even though we are so far away, we have managed to keep the wonderful tradition of gathering together and feasting in celebration of Thanks. We had a buffet meal at the local Marriott hotel after playing some beach volleyball, playing with frisbee's and soccer balls, and ping pong! It was so wonderful to hear what everyone was grateful for as they went around the room talking about the things which they were grateful for.

I would like to share a few things I am grateful for.

   1) I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. He has made possible that I can change who I am, and how I perceive myself, and become someone better. I never quite appreciated the Atonement until I really let it work within my heart. Controlling one's habits and desires is something that most people can do with self control, but by drawing close to the Savior, He can change our hearts into desiring righteous and wholesome things. I am so grateful for this, as I have changed a lot in the desires of my heart :)

     2)  I am grateful for my family. I have one of the wisest fathers and one of the most loving mothers. They are both Rock stars in their own way. Both Valiant. Both pure and true, and always desire to do the right thing. As I look back I can see the countless sacrifices they have made on my behalf, and how they have helped me become the man I am today. They are troopers to the max. I am also grateful for my Brave Brother. As I have been away from him, I have been so impressed with great decisions he has made in his life. Choosing to do something with his life by joining the military has turned out to be a great blessing, and now has made an even better decision in deciding to take a "Leap of faith" and marry an incredible Carrie Hunt. They are going to be good to each other. I am so grateful to have such a valiant brother, who has always done his best to do right.

    3) I am grateful for my Priesthood leaders, who have been an unmoving source of divine guidance and truth in my life. Their examples are burned into my memory, and their purity and virtue will continue to be an inspiration to me.

    4) I am grateful for the Scriptures. I never appreciated them before. But now? Well....let's just say that I never want to go another day without reading from them again. Their ability to guide my thoughts and life are invaluable. I love holding them in my hand. I love marking them. I love reading what I have received as revelation and writing down as the Spirit unfolds mysteries of God to me. It's incredible. Read it.

    5) I'm grateful for My Mission President. His example, spirituality and teaching. He has taught me how to teach. He has been a source of great knowledge, love and diligence in my life. I feel that the Lord has blessed me with the man whom I was meant to serve under. President Clark has this way of being loving, inspiring, and has a fire about him. He is so passionate about this Gospel, and about this Kingdom. This truly is the Kingdom of God. It will go forth and no unhallowed hand can hinder the work :) It feels good being on the winning team.

   So many things to be grateful for. Wow....I would suggest that each of you write down maybe once a day something new that you are grateful for. Like one? Bananas.....they are great for smoothies. And for those of you who have enjoyed my Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshakes in the past.....just you wait ;) Now "this guy" has variety ;) I love you all so much and am grateful for the support you give me in your thoughts, prayers, and emails. Some may go unnoticed by man, but they never are unneeded, and they always make a difference.

Your are all the BEST!!!!

     Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 69 - Malaysia - Something to Smile About‏

Nov. 15, 2011

Dearest Family!!!

This must be the Chief!

Look out for the natives!!

Elder Steadman

A day in the caves

Is that a submarine??

    So we finally have our ducks in a row, and I can send pictures!!! 

    

     This past week we went to the Niah Caves in Miri here, and WOW!!! Talk about cool. We crawled through small tunnels and also walked in huge caverns!!! It was amazing to see the long tiny poles that the Natives will climb to harvest the bird nests to make the famous, Bird Nest Soup. I here Chinese people like to eat it. It was pretty incredible cave to behold, and even though it took ALL day (due to being nearly abandoned by our driver) it was still a great building and bonding experience. 

    Things are going well here in Miri, and the member based Missionary work continues to go forth. As the investigators continue to read, pray, and come to church, they are making changes in their life. Small changes first, like cutting their hairs, washing their clothes, and then some big changes: Like praying for friends to come back to church and then actually bringing them. It has been incredible to see these people change their lives :) I love this work. I can't help but have a big beaming smile, and smile at everyone. I still remember one grumpy old Chinese woman in Singapore remarked at me: Why so smiley?. If she knew what I knew.....She would be just as "smiley" I love this gospel. Life is great!!! We have some baptisms coming up and even more coming up in December. It has been so rad to be here at such a time. We should always have a smile on our face. We have the oaths and covenants of the Gospel in our life. What is there to frown about? Most things which cause us great concern, stress, grey hairs, are of no eternal consequence. TRUE FACT. Let others know. Let your light so shine. I have always loved 3 Nephi 13:19-21. You should check it out :)

I love you all.

Your loving Friend, Brother, and Son

      Elder Kampenhout

Week 68 - Malaysia - Working in a world of Trial and Tribulation‏

Nov. 10, 2011

Dearest Family and Friends,

    Something my father wrote me, and recent talks in conference about "dribbling out of bounds", and events in the world today have led me to think greatly about the ideal of Keeping our Covenants. Being a covenant keeping people. The first covenant comes at Baptism, which most of us have made at one point in our life, mostly in our younger years. However, those promises we make are tested every day, and everyone needs support. We can no longer afford to "let others take care of themselves" but we must take a pro-active role in being our brother's keeper. When we deliberately withhold help, or time, or assistance in helping someone keep a covenant, then in a sense we are the ones putting the nails into their spiritual coffin. A prophet's role is to be a voice of warning, and every day he prays for our assistance in helping our brothers and sisters. We must begin to help them before baptism and continue to do so after baptism. I know that if you REALLY understood how important you are to those who are struggling with covenants, or starting to make new ones, you would take every opportunity to attend their baptisms, be their Diligent Home Teachers, and exemplify the Savior in their life.
    Keeping our covenants really is the key in obtaining righteousness and happiness. The world is going to continue to decline in unbelief and corruption, and that is why we need to stand strong in our covenants. As we stay focused on the important things, then other things will be easier to deal with. I find this so important as well in missionary work as well. I know that as a missionary it can be very lonely sometimes when trying to help someone make such hard steps in their life. Most members have no idea what it is like to change your previous life to the Gospel life. That is why I feel they are apathetic to assisting others to "join". Every time a member comes to a lesson, or better yet takes a pro-active role in the investigator's church attendance, in class, or between lesson fellowshipping, or in attending their baptism, giving talks, prayers, I feel like it is no longer just us us missionaries helping this man, but the ward/branch. I know that if you take a more active role in helping the recent converts, you will feel a stronger spirit in your daily life. You will feel God's love stronger than before, and you will be serving your fellow man in eternal steps towards their eternal happiness. Don't you want these things? Doesn't everyone? "Arise out of obscurity" (2 Nephi 1:23) and be the helping hand that the Savior was for us. Now I may be preaching to the choir, but I know that there are many who could lift a little more.
    Lately here in Miri, our area has taken off with people committing to baptism and desiring to learn and come to church. 95% of our investigators have a baptismal date and actively attend church. Now this is not because Elder Steadman and I are the perfect missionaries (we are trying though) but it is because of the member's involvement. They are talking with them between appointments, reading with them, helping them go to church, sitting by them in church, and being what the Savior would be for all of us. This help is so greatly appreciated and because so, the work has been going very, very, very well. We are keeping so busy that we have needed to try some new and fun strategies in our planning. It has been pretty rad :) We are dividing each hour of the day into "points" and during our weekly planning we decide  how many investigator points (hours set aside to meet investigators) we have and then allocate them to our investigators according to their needs. I'm excited to see how it turns out :) Now.....we may use a little bit more nerdier gamer terms in actual execution, but that is another story :)
   I know that the Lord loves you all and desires the utmost for all of us. He desires to bless His children so much, and I feel that love everyday. I can't imagine how big His heart is. It's probably the size of a pumpkin. Here are a couple suggestions I would like to invite you to do:
     1) Read from the Scriptures daily. Not from the internet or from the iphone or ipad, but from the paper scriptures themselves. They are not meant to be read when you have a second here or there, but to be given specific dedicated time. If you feel you are "too busy" then I would suggest you rearrange your priorities. Go Slow to go Fast.
     2) Ask for the Holy Ghost to guide your prayers. It may seem odd, but try it. Bring your Spirit and thoughts into submission before you begin your daily personal prayer, and then plead that the Spirit will guide you before you have an "Interview" with the Lord. That is what prayers in essence are.
     3) Spend the time in Sacrament meeting thinking about YOUR covenants, and YOUR efforts to fulfill them, and recommit yourselves for the coming week. Now it's really easy to get distracted and think about other things, but that is why they don't have pictures in the sacrament room, why they don't play music while it is being passed, and why our incredible Aaronic Priesthood humbly dress and administer this most sacred ordinance. Now, you may think that you can't concentrate because "that baby keeps crying in the back" or the kids are being noisy in front of you. But I know you can do it :) I wish each of you could see a typical Iban sacrament. 10% of the branch are children, and with parenting techniques in need of help, most children run free during the sacrament meeting. But it is still possible to concentrate :) If I can do it, you can do it. :)

    I love you all so much, and pray that sometimes what I have said, that the Spirit has said, or that the speakers, leaders or teachers in church have said has stirred you to become more in your service towards your fellow man, your family, and your God. It really is the greatest thing you could ever do. All other walks of life are imitations, or supporting roles in helping us return to our Heavenly Father. Don't forget the big things :)

Your loving friend, brother, and son,

     Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 67 - Malaysia - Miri-cles‏

Nov. 1, 2011

Dearest World,

 

      And my lovely family included in it. How are you? Nama Beritah? Nee how ma? Anu Abarnu? Comosta? Ani Agahmu? Abar Kariba? - - - -- Those are just a few of many ways I have learned to ask people how are you. Let's just say there are so many mixes of languages here in Malaysia :D It makes life amazing.

      Yet despite all of the languages, communication seems to be one of the things which lacks the most. In fact, I would believe that most of the world's struggles come because of lack of communication. People feel sad in heart when they lose communication with their Heavenly Father. Couples get upset when they don't properly communicate and understand one another, and in this world of so many languages, people just don't communicate well, sometimes. Food for thought....how could you better communicate with your family?

      Well, communication has been a big thing in Miri as of late. Even though the Zone lives alot closer (all in one town finally), the nightly phone conversations are not as big, and that results in a lack of knowledge about what is actually going on. It's kinda amazing how one can be so close to someone else, yet really be so far away. However, that does not prevent the Lord working his wonders and making miracles happen. One incredible miracle was actually a result of another.

      On Thursday last week we had an appointment with the Lord to go finding in Tudan (a very distant area in our area) at 2:30pm, and due to some lateness of events, we were a bit delayed and even though we had better things to do, we followed through with our appointment we had prayerfully set earlier. We weren't sure where or who, all we knew was when. And sure enough, it happened. As we were riding by this little house off the beaten path, these two women began calling to us, and Elder Steadman and I both had the impression to turn back and go visit them. When we approached the house we were recieved by a screaming child who was terrified of us and slammed the door in our face. We stood in amazement for a minute before the mom and grandma opened the door again and invited us in. Haha. They later recapped that they had no idea why they called us over, but they were just acted upon by a power, and when we began talking about following Jesus Christ into Baptism for the remission of sins, the mother broke down into tears in how badly she wanted this, and how she doesn't want her children to follow in wicked paths but to learn about God. It was pretty exciting :) Now the sad second half of the story is that the husband had different ideas and convinced the mother that their old church was good enough, but that brought us to the same area another day where we ran into some kids and out of unknown reasons we started playing soccer a bit, and then turned it into a Gospel discussion. The most interested was a young woman of 14 years of age named Gelang. While I was a bit hesitant at first to invite them to church, I was brought back to reflect upon what 14 year olds have done for the world....Joseph Smith for one. He was only 14 when he experienced one of the most incredible visions of all time. My own father was only 14 years old when he accepted this Gospel into his life and therefore altered my eternal salvation and all of my posterity. Thank you. This little 14 year old girl has begun to do the same, and made the steps to take her sister and her neighbor to church with her the following day. Miricles do happen. By small and simple things, do great things come to pass, and in many ways doth confound the wise.

       The Lord will call us in our weakness, and will give us challenges we are unable to overcome in our current state. That is why h\He gives them, so we can grow to become what He sees we can become :) I know He does this out of love, and it is by the same love that I invite you to look in your own lives how your communication between your family, friends, enemies and unknow associates are being disrupted by greed, disbelief, assumption, hate, and discontent. Write them on a piece of paper and burn them in a fire, and try to put yourselves in their shoes. Most people are trying to do what they feel is right. Help them do what is right, and inspire them to do even more :)

 

Your Loving Brother, Friend, and Son,

 

       Elder Willem Kamepnhout

Week 66 - Malaysia - Goodbye Sabah Tribe, Here Comes Miri!!!!!‏

Oct. 18, 2011

Dearest Family,

     The KK (Kota Kinabalu) members unknowingly prophesied that I would be transferred, and it once again came to pass. I can always tell because they will start to give me their books of remembrances to write in and say "You never know when you will leave." Its been 2/2 so far ;) But!!! The news came in, and I will be transferred to Miri to take on even greater challenges. I will be serving as a Zone Leader, but also training at the same time!!! Woah!!!! This will be a new interesting challenge, but for a change our zone will be able to easily meet for activities and meetings. It is a bit hard to leave behind Sabah, and its great mix of nationalities and languages and faithful people. The Sabah Zone is really starting to boom, and and they are even getting another companionship of Elders in KK as well :D Things are just looking good. But worst news of all....next week Pres Clark comes to KK and is taking the Missionaries to Mount Kinabalu. ARG!!!! Just barely missed it. Haha.....its ok though. I got the best part of Sabah, that is serving and teaching its people :)

    This transfer was a bit different, as after Sunday we still had a full two days of work, which is unusual. So we spent some time on Monday preparing the house for holding 4 Elders, and getting my stuff all together. This allowed for us to have an incredible Tuesday, where we taught some very good and memorable lessons with Investigators and even contacted a few new ones!!! Working up until the very end ;) One of the most special experiences was what happened with a part member family. The Mother and her younger sister have been baptized about a year and a half, and the Husband had been learning before, but due to pressure from his family, he stopped. This absolutely broke the heart of the Mother, but she kept that desire burning within her. After some recent events (death of family members who gave opposition) the mother finally felt that it was time to try again, but she knew that the Sister Missionaries whom always visited her and taught her were not what her husband needed. So she asked us to come, and befriend him and then spark a conversation about the Gospel, so we did. Skipping out on a Going Away Party, we went to their tiny little shake where they sell and cook food, we sat down and ate and drew the husband into conversation about kids, cars and man things :) It was really awesome :D He went from just sitting and holding the kids inside to coming out and sitting with us. As we turned the topic into the Gospel by inviting to come to a branch activity, he then surprised us by willing saying that he could and would go to church. "apa?!?" (what?) responded his wife. She had told us he worked on Sundays, so going into the meeting we weren't sure if it would be of any use, but he told us that he could not make it to the morning session, but the 11am session he could make it. It was so amazing, and as we continued to teach him about prayer and blessings that could come to his family, he really just listened and took it in. At the end He offered a very humble and good prayer, and as we were leaving the mother looked at us and with water beginning to form in her eyes she said " Elders.....Thank you." Such a simple saying, but at that moment, at that time, it meant the world to me. It was so joyful to see that families can be repaired, wounds can be healed, and that nothing is impossible with the Lord. I know that this mother and her husband still have a lot to learn, but she now has a hope. It is hope that keeps us going. A hope of good things to come. If you don't have hope, you can't have faith. I really saw hope fill her eyes at that moment, and it has given me hope for my own life, family, and future :)

     What kind of things bring you hope in your life? For me, the biggest one is my Family. I have one of the greatest families in the world. Yes, its not perfect, but that is why I have that hope, because one day it will become the perfect family. It will be sealed together for all eternity by the Love of the family members, and the Love and Priesthood of the Lord. I also find Hope in children. Each child has such great potential, and only needs proper guidance and direction in order to become one of the Sons of God (Moroni 7:48). What can we do in order to make this happen? We can all assist each other in helping each other. Sometimes one may feel that their service is of no use, or not good enough, or that no one really cares. This is False. Many many times I think back to the Leaders and the Teachers and the people who were there to support and strengthen me at the times I needed it most. They had no idea what I was going through in life, or what the condition of my heart was, but the fact remains that they were doing their own best. Anything worth doing is worth being done poorly. Even if you don't do the best job at it, by doing it you get better, and you become a better person and uplift others :D Whether it is a little or a lot, you are still lifting where you stand. Keep on walking, keep on talking, and keep on serving with all your heart, might, mind and strength. Our Loving Heavenly Father is happy with all good that you create :D

      Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,
                          Elder Willem Kampenhout