Week 88 - Singapore & Malaysia - A Man of Change‏

April 3 , 2012

Elder Tovar and Myself. Both a changed man!

A snapshot in Singapore. A bit different than the jungles of Malaysia.

Elder Martin, Inus (Recent Convert in Singapore), and Myself

Eve and the newest chapel in Singapore. Baptism NIGHT!!!!

Noemi, Porxia (Investigator) and Bev with Elder Martin and myself. Porxia just received permission from her family to be baptized after much fasting and prayer. She was so happy she was literally jumping and squealing with joy in the office here :D

Sister Burtis and her deaf Malaysian investigator in Singapore. That little girl is permanently smiling :D

Dearest Family,

     This age is so full of technological advancements, isn't it? Here I can click a button and on the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD you can receive an image of my life captured in time by a camera almost instantaneously. Now just think about those in the 1700's and tell them that this was possible. Hahaha!

    So the life keeps on getting better here. This past week was our first big transfer that went down, and honestly is was pretty painless to figure out with President Clark. It seemed that the revelation just flowed into the room and the assignments just came. Some changes were made last second (due to inspiration) and it just made the entire transfer feel right. It was a pretty big transfer too. I think 7 of 48 companionships were not affected. THAT'S A LOT!!!!

   Last night we sent home the group of missionaries that came before my group, and in that group was a missionary who literally turned his whole life around. In his closing testimony this Elder talked about how when he came into the mission he didn't know anything about the gospel. He knew it was true, but if you asked him how old Joseph Smith was when he had the first vision, he had no idea. From there he had many experiences and met many people, but was still fairly the same person until there came a turning point in his life. I don't know what it was, and I probably never will know, but the fact remains that this Elder has completely changed his life. As he stood there bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel, I realized within myself how much I have changed. I can relate in a sense to that my Gospel knowledge was not very deep before the mission. I had never really read the Book of Mormon all the way through either, but that all changed when I went on my mission. As I look back to where the change began, my mind turns to the point when I was getting ready to be set apart as a missionary. I had just sent a goodbye text message to Amanda N. and then turned off my cellphone while standing in the doorway of my mother's living room. I placed the phone down on the little table next to her love seat where she and Papa watch movies together. I feel that at that point I made a choice. I made a choice to serve the Lord and to give my all to Him. I shut off my desires to participate in Non-missionary activities. It's not that those things aren't fun or good and wholesome, but during the next two years, I didn't quite know it then as I do so now, but I was enabling myself to truly enjoy doing things that I could only enjoy and do as a Full-time Missionary. Once I made the choice, the rest was easy. Well, there are still difficulties, but I knew where I stood. Since that moment of time, I have truly changed. I promise each and every one of you that I am a different man than I was before. I am a better one. Not because of anything I did, but what the Lord was able to do with me. I feel that I am more personable, quicker to observe, more positive, patient, and personally confident. These have all been gifts from God. There is no earthly shopping center where one could purchase such gifts, but when you give your whole heart to someone who has given you everything, He is able to give you more. This change in my life has been the sweetest repentance I have ever enjoyed. Because of Jesus Christ's atonement I have been able to repent and allow Him to change my heart's desires. It has not been easy. It was never meant to be easy, but it has been worth it. I feel such a spiritual high that if I don't read the scriptures in the morning that I am missing something. I NEED to keep this going the rest of my life. It is so great :D Miracles never cease. Where are the miracles in your life?

    Look for them. They are there.

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,

      Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 87 - Singapore and Malaysia - Kembali ke KK!!!!‏

March 28, 2012

Obviously Singapore!!

Hello all!

   Ni hau ma? Haha! So my Chinese has been getting a bit better. Im still not able to have a conversation, but i can banter back and forth with other Chinese missionaries about certain subjects, and I can recognize words they are saying. Its so much fun learning other languages. Its amazing what you can pick up if you just try. 

  So this past weekend we were able to go to KK for a Special Missionary training (which we held on Mount Kinabalu) and then stayed in town for the Sabah District Conference. WAHHH!!!! SOOOO AWESOME!!! of the 4 branches there, I had only not served in one, but i know a few the of the members really well. It was a a pretty sweet re-union, especially with Jacky and Jeffery (some of my recent converts from KK). They had fallen on hard times, but came to district conference to see me, and they were able to hear some messages which both they and I realized was prepared for them it was incredible to see how the Lord works through inspiration. He really does lead us through the inspiration of his Word.

   Another cool opportunity was that over 20 members of the district are planning on going to the Temple soon. WOW! So awesome. 4 of the people being interviewed were Young Single adults who had received mission calls. SO COOL! They are all waiting on their visa's but should be able to leave in April. Two of the missionaries are the identical twins (Laura and Elsie) who's older brother is currently serving a mission in SLC Utah. WOW! Having 3 kids out on a mission. Talk about a blast! They have such great Spirits, and will be able to do a lot of good. 

   As the KK District Conference came to a close, we flew with the Senior Couples to Singapore where we had another Senior Conference, but we were also waving farewell to the Cunninghams (Mukah Senior Couple) and the Larsons (KK Senior Couple). They have both been an extraordinary assistance to the mission and the missionaries. Both Elder Larson and Elder Cunningham are Patriarchs, and every Elder who has served underneath them has really grown from their testimony and wisdom. It is pretty incredible how the Lord can take someone and work them and shape them to be a powerful servant. When we give ourselves, our whole selves, the Lord really will make it happen. Their testimonies were astounding, and I will greatly miss them in the mission-field.

  That same evening we were blessed with the testimonies of Brother and Sister Bradford, who were Ex-pats living in Singapore, who spoke to us about the Atonement. They lost their oldest Son Parker when he was 17 when he attempted to save a drowning friend, but was knocked unconscious and drowned. He was taken to the Hospital where he was put on life support, but after two days was taken off. It was an incredible story of how they found comfort and healing through the Saviors gospel and his Love, and through the sealing power of the Priesthood. It was incredible. It really helped me see that work is being done on both sides of the veil, and that as angels over there are assisting others, we are serving as the Lord's angels here on this earth. That never became so real to me until this point in time. It was particularly touching to know that :) There is so much to be learned and to be gained in this life. This life is truly one worth living. LOVE IT!

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,

     Elder Willem Kampenhout   

Week 86 - Singapore and Malaysia - Bintulu and KK‏

March 23, 2012

Elder Kampenhout in front of Mount Kina Balu! 4K high!!!

President Clark and Myself in the middle of the hike

Waterfall on Mount Kota Kinabalu

Dearest Family
 
    This past weekend we were able to have lots of missionary appointments
in Singapore on Saturday and Sunday, and WOW!!! It was awesome! I love
teaching the Gospel, and it was amazing how it flowed so much easier when
teaching in English. WOW. Super Rad. We had double digits on investigators
at church this Sunday, and it was especially great because out investigator
Enos has quit smoking on the drop of a hat so that he can be baptized this
week!!! YAYA!!!!! He has progressed so well over the years. He has taught
himself how to read (slowly) and absolutely loves the gospel and the
church. He understands that when he moves back to Sabah that he is still a
member of the Church and that he is going to do his very best to move to KK
to go to church. So rad.
 
    Well, we quickly went to Bintulu Sarawak early this week, which is the
factory central of all of Sarawak. There are 4 growing branches there
though! There I was able to help President Clark translate over 20 Temple
interviews, which was an awesome experience. To these people, and temple is
something which requires great sacrifice to attend. Many of them can only
go once or twice in a lifetime, but will renew their recommend so that they
can always live worthy of their covenants. It is so important to always
live worthy of that standard. Also while in Bintulu we drove up to the Niah
Caves where we hiked through the gaping caves and had a devotional in which
we shared our latest enlightenment and testimonies from the scriptures. It
was incredible to see the growth and strength in the testimonies of the
young Elders, and the maturity in the older ones. Their studies in the
scriptures may play the most important role in their lives. Imagine our
world without scriptures today. Do we really appreciate the greatest gifts
we have given? We should be ever so grateful that Nephi returned to
Jerusalem to retrieve the brass plates, that William Tinsdale made his
efforts to translate the bible, and to all of those who have sought to
bring forth the Word of God. We have been given the source of knowledge.
Often there are many questions that I want to ask, but then I realize that
the answer is already made available in the scriptures. Oh how I need to
read them more diligently.
 
    Last night we flew into Kota Kinabalu, My longest area in the mission,
and I was able to accompany Elder Brodie in teaching some of their
investigators, all of which are solid. The most special though was when we
visited Joebort and Marilyn. They are a young Filipino couple whom Elder
Hawkins and I contacted into over 6 months ago. They are not yet baptized
because they are waiting to be legally married in the Philippines first,
but they have been faithful since the day we met them. When I saw them last
night, there was a noticeable difference in just the way that they looked.
Their countenances had completely changed, and they were happier, more
active, and the Light of Christ more prevalent. I was nearly brought to
tears when we were teaching them about enduring trials and doing good. I am
ever so grateful that I was directed by the spirit that day to go knock on
their door. Perhaps I can retell the story.

Elder Kampenhout, Joebort and Marilyn

     We would often ride the bus out to appointments in our area, and we
always bussed past these apartments that we located close to the church.
After a while I felt an impression to go knocking there, and my companion
and I set a day and off we went. Our initial success was poor, as most of
the doors had already received and rejected missionaries, but Elder Hawkins
and I persevered all the way up the 6 flights of stairs. By the time we
reached to top, things were not looking good. When we knocked on a door, a
man answered and told us that while he was not interested, his friend would
be, and he pointed us to the door across. So we eagerly knocked that door,
talked with the woman who answered, and gave her a pamphlet. She seemed
rather interested, but was unable to meet right then. When we closed our
discussion, President Clark's training about Following Up with referrals
came into my mind, and I felt prompted to return to the mans door and tell
him how things went. When we knocked he opened again and we told him how
things went and invited him again to learn himself. This time he let us
into his apartment where we sat down and talked with him about God and
Prayer and he told us an incredible story about how God answered a prayer
of his. When we invited him to learn more, he asked for us to wait for his
wife to come back from the Philippines, and the following week we were able
to meet Marilyn. Joebert has since quit all of his addictions, and is
living the commandments, and is progressing incredibly well. Marilyn too
has changed more dramatically. I still remember the first day we met her.
In her closing prayer she thanked God for sending his servants to find his
lost children. This touched me so much. I don't know what all was going on
in their life, but I know that the one whom we represented was able to heal
them. This Gospel is true. It can Heal the broken hearted, restore sight to
the blindness of emotion and blindness towards one situation. It can
restore strength to family relationships. This Gospel is True. I love the
man whose message I bear.
 
Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,
 
     Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 85 - Singapore and Malaysia - Mission Tour Part 2‏

March 13, 2012

Elder Thurman (tallest missionary in the mission) at his farewell dinner.

Elder Steadman and I with Sister Foo, Gelang, Kadam, Jessica, and the little boy. All Recent Converts!!!

Instructions in a hotel on how to wear a Sarong (they have them in the rooms!)

Recent Coverts (Sivista, Peny and their Children) w Elder Laycock in Sibu Jaya

Hey Everyone!!!!

    So things have been awesome. We are now done with the incredible Mission Tour with Elder Perkins, and finished up Saturday and Sunday with a District Leadership Training (to all of the District Presidencies from all of East Malaysia) and then had Miri District Conference. It was soo cool to be in those meetings with the Leaders of the Church, where they discussed the progression of the Church on a broad and vast scale, yet focus on the individual. This Church is led by men who have been called of God. One of the areas of focus was to get the Youth Serving missions, and they showed a video from LDS.org that testified about the great duty and calling of missionaries. As we watched this little video, the Spirit of the Lord descended into the room and testified to ALL that this was the way that the Church was going to grow in Malaysia. Not upon the sole efforts of the American missionaries, but largely upon the Returned Missionaries serving from Malaysia. After the video, Elder Perkins stood up and bore a simple testimony in which he said "that not a day goes by where the things I learned on my mission don't have an effect." He testified about how much he loved his mission, and the tears welled up in his eyes as he testified about the guidance and direction it has played in his life. As he spoke these words, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the same influence would be played in my life. I am so grateful that I have chosen to serve a mission, and that I had been prepared by my parents and by the Lord to be able to do so. Amongst the Billions upon billions who have ever lived on this earth, how many have the opportunity to serve mission? How many have the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ of which to share with the broken hearted? How great our calling is! :D We can be the personal messenger for the Savior, and see how the Gospel heals the lives of those who accept it. This really is the greatest calling ever :D At the District Conference I was able to reunite with a family in whom Elder Steadman and I had taught and baptized, and all of the family members came to church (even the less active daughter). The mothers countenance had completely changed, and her intelligence and brightness had increased. The Gospel is working within them :D It is so true. It was an incredible trip.

   I will never be able to forget the effects of this mission tour. I will never be able to forget the things which God has taught me on my mission. It is of utmost importance. With Elder Bednar nearly a year ago, I learned about the importance of agency, and the principle of Faith being built upon agency. This time with Elder Perkins I learned about the important use of correction, and how chastising opens the gate for repentance and eternal life. When one rejects correction, they are damning themselves to improvement. Let us accept the correction that other give, no matter how rude or poorly given, if we seek out the truth in what they say, and seek to continually improve, it is then that we begin our journey on eternal life. I would invite all of you to read the scriptures and pay attention to the correction that Heavenly Father and our Earthly Leaders give us. I know that by doing so we will become happier and better people.

   I love you all, and can't wait to hear from you again. 

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,

      Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 84 - Singapore & Malaysia - From Sandakan to a General Authority‏

March 6, 2012

Elder Kampenhout and a GIANT jackfruit

Look Closely on the stick---A super poisonous centipede! Yikes!! It almost got Elder Ahmad

Elder & Sister Perkins (L) visiting President & Sister Clark  (R)at the Hospital, 2 days after President Clark's heart surgery. He looks good!!!

Sister Marlita and her family we visited. Super Spiritual lesson there!

Hey Everyone!!!!

    This past week Elder Martin and I went on exchanges in Sandakan! Yay!!! It was way cool being back, even though the missionary work has slowed down where we were at. It was incredible to see who sticks around and who leaves. In the end, the choice is in everyone's own hands as to what they do in life. Many people choose less than great, but when one does choose to empower themselves in always doing right, and imitating the Savior in all things they do, it makes those around them so much happier. As my father consistently guides me to do, by just being Kind, so many of our lives will improve. I start by just talking to everyone and making them smile. Saying hello to all the countless check out clerks, the immigration cops to chop my passport, the bus drivers. Everyone. It really is amazing to see how your simple expression of energy and love can lighten their day. Try it :D
     Wow. So after working for a few days hunting out some new investigators, visiting less actives, and attending Sacrament Meeting in Sandakan, we flew back to Singapore. It was a bit sad to see how the Branch has fallen on hard times, and how the missionary area has dwindled. I could feel this evil spirit resting over the city as we were there, and it left as we too left. It will take some real killer missionaries combined with a re-dedication from the Branch to cease its wickedness and follow the Saviors call to "Love one another." The gospel one day will flourish in Sandakan though. Of that I have no doubt. I know there will be a stake there someday :D.
    So as we flew back to Singapore, we were welcomed into the presence of Elder Perkins, the Area President. Wow!!! It was way cool to be around him. It wasn't as awesome as it should have been because President Clark was still in the Hospital waiting to be released after suffering a heart attack on Saturday, but it was still great to be around him :D (By the way President Clark is in great condition, out of the Hospital, and could go on a 10 mile run tomorrow [he probably will]) So since President Clark has been grounded for the Mission Tour, we as the Assistants have had to step up to the plate and fill in his role. Intimidating? Yes....but definably possible. On Monday when we met in Singapore, the West Assistants (Elder Whittaker and Jones) did an amazing job, and the meeting truely was a revelatory experience. Elder Perkins talked with us about approaching our sacred experiences (sacrament meeting, scripture study) with questions on our mind that we want answered. Instead of going to a meeting waiting to see what they say that makes you feel good, go to a meeting seeking to have a question answered. Go Hungry. Seek and ye shall find me. That alone completely turned around the SMT and made it a revelatory experience. He also had so much good counsel that I just wrote it all down. So much good things! Like:
1) Doubt not, but be believing (We need to talk with a language of faith) (We need to eliminate fear out of the equation)
2) Use Joseph Smith's own words when describing the first vision.
3) We need to create a record (Area books for missionaries)(Family History and Journals for the rest of us)(If the Savior showed up at a missionaries house, he would ask to see the areabook)
4) Obedience will empower you. You might be able to get by for a little while living a wicked life, but things will eventually get fouled up.

And so much more. Wow. I can't wait for tomorrow when we get to hear from him tomorrow. I certainly hope I can continue to progress in my Missionary work and become a better Man in all things. I have been thinking alot how being a leader is much like being a Father. Lots of lessons to learn. One thing I want to do is read through the Book of Mormon again and look for where the Father is Present or talked about. :D I would invite you to do similar. We need to study the scriptures looking for examples and patterns of what the Apostles, Prophets and the Savior have done. Look for the real life application :D I know that whenever I have preformed a work with an objective, it has always gone better. I know you can do so as well. Im not sure what you need, but the Lord does. Whether newly married, long time married, single, or seeking how to deal with wayward children, deal with co-workers, parents, all of the answers really are in the scriptures.

Well I hope this letter finds you well. I love you all and hope that you will make choices that bring the best of life upon you.

Your Loving Friend, Brother, and Son,

Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 83 - Singapore and Malaysia - On the Road‏

March 1, 2012

Hello everyone!!!
 
    This past week has been a bit crazy. Went out to Bintulu (a big
factory town) where we have 4 branches, with one newly split. Well it
was a pretty humble place, and I loved my time out there. The air is
pretty horrible though, and I have caught the "Bintulu Batuk"
(batuk=cough) and I have some junk in my throat, but its not big deal.
Only comes out in the mornings i think. But it has been fun.
 
   This week we were able to attend church in Singapore. So amazing. I
love Sacrament meeting. I love meetings in which the spirit are
manifest (like when we meet weekly with Pres. Clark). I can't imagine
being late to such a meeting. Being prompt is so important, that way
you get to feel the full blessings of the appointed time you have to
meet with the Lord. Can you imagine being late to a personal meeting
with God? Woah..... Haha :D
     Afterwards we went to a park where we were able to meet some
member's friends and contacted them while I sang happy birthday in
Dutch to the Birthday girl. They loved it. Everyone does. Especially
the mission president's wife. She makes me do it at every conference.
EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! I always try to escape but someone always reminds
her. There are probably going to be a couple hundred videos of me
singing it online after my mission. Haha.
 
    Well, we just got off a bus from Tawau (the furthest branch in the
mission, a 2:50 hour flight!)  going to Sandakan! I love Sandakan. It
was about a year ago that I was serving here and we are excited to be
able to go on exchanges with the missionaries here and help them get
some people to church this Sunday. That very Sunday though we fly back
to Singapore and have a dinner and interviews with the Asia Area
President! Wow!!! Im pretty excited for that opportunity. Elder
Perkins is a pretty cool guy. Met him about a month ago in Singapore.
The leaders of this Church really are the most incredible people.
Everyone really is preforming above and beyond the call of duty. The
more I learn about the apostles and prophets, the more I am able see
and imagine what the Savior must have been like. I have especially
liked this March's edition of the Ensign on President Monson. So
awesome. I was also able to watch his biography film. So incredible.
There is no one more fit to serve as the prophet :D I fully sustain
him in his calling. He needs all the help he can get. He needs our
help, in reaching out and doing good to those around us. Smiling.
Being happy, even if we have so many reasons to be down. Being down
never made anyone happy. Did it? I know that as we smile, even when we
are talking to people on the phone, they will be able to notice a
difference. Try it. Smile in a mirror before you answer the phone. The
person on the other end of the line will be able to tell :)
 
    I love you all and hope that this email finds you in good health
and happiness. :D
 
Your loving friend, brother, and son,
 
    Elder Willem Kampenhout
 

Week 82 - Singapore and Malaysia - Be the Example‏

Feb. 21, 2012

Hello all!

Elder Kampenhout  with recent from converts & members from Miri

Sibu (taken from church window)

    So things are going well here. Elder Martin and I have been on the road every week. We average at LEAST 4 flights a week. It's kinda of crazy how much time we spend traveling. It's fun though. We have grown super close, and even though at first we had some pretty HUGE differences, we have been able to teach one another through example. It's kinda funny how that works. When missionaries tell each other that "you need to do this or that, or be like me", it rarely has good effects. Often times it creates rifts. But with Elder Martin and I we have been able to see one another's example, and take from it what we desire. It's been amazing to see the improvement :D With that in mind, I would like to stress the fact that we live the Gospel that we have covenanted to keep. That is one of the best ways we can do missionary work. Be the Charity that you read about, show the love that is so needed, and be patient, even as our Father in Heaven is patient with his children. In my pondering I have learned much about the role of Father from thinking about how Heavenly Father treats us. I have a feeling I will yet learn more.
    But other than that, things are going well. Our investigator Enos has gone to church twice here in Singapore while we have been out of town, and is progressing well. He can't read hardly, but is trying. If we text him scriptures, or if he texts himself, he has a program on his phone that will read it out loud so he can hear it and know what it says. Oh the advancing technology! Enos is from Sabah, and it is way fun to teach him in Malay amongst a ward of English speaking Filipinos. The Indonesian/Malaysian community in our ward is very close knit, and super great at fellowship at church. I have never quite learned to appreciate the importance of fellowship until I came out on a mission. Its Gi-huge.
    So as far as conferences, last week we had our Zone Leader Council, which was good, and then we went on splits with some of the missionaries in Sibu. We were also graced with the return of a former missionary, Elder Pace. He finished his mission in Sibu about 2 years ago, and came back with his wife to go on vacation. Well....vacation meaning taking the Elders around to show them all of the "lost coins" that were the members back in his day, and they dug up tons of new investigators who in turn came to church and wanted to be baptized. From the previous week, the church attendance more than doubled. It was incredible! The influence that one missionary can have is amazing. With the lessons taught, anyone could have read those scriptures, but when the missionary that baptized them read those scriptures, and lovingly and boldly invited them to turn their life around, it came with a greater force. All of this because a love existed between them. There was already a bond. I see this much like a bond between a parent and a child. The parent is the most influential person in a child's life, and that Love needs to be nurtured and grown so that when the storms of life arise, that connection will be strong enough so that the parent can guide and direct the child in a direction they need to go. So with that love existing, Elder Pace was able to stir his recent converts (of which are many) to a remembrance of their covenants. It was amazing to see.
     Now everyone should see and respect the missionaries as messengers of Jesus Christ, but the world is just not that way. That is why each and every Elder, and member who has taken upon themselves the name of Christ, needs to start being like the Savior. In our actions, in the way we treat others, and in the very words we say. As my great soccer coach once said: "You can do better." Let us be better men and women for a better cause, because we realize what a better world we can help create. Maybe that better world won't come in our surroundings, but within our own hearts and homes. I love you all and know that life is the greatest thing we have been given. We should be smiling every day :D

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