Week 46 – Malaysia - Kaamatan!!!!‏

May 31, 2011

The Harvest Festival has arrived!!!

    Wow, talk about the big party time of the year for Malaysia. In Sarawak, it is usually a month long thing, with lots of parties happening everywhere, but here in Sabah, it is a bit more organized. All over they have beauty pageants and mini festivals, but they all build up to the 30th and 31st of May, in which the largest festival is at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) where everyone goes. During the day there are tons of ethnic dancing and foods and crafts and beads, and you can see people in all their native costumes and even learn bits of their language. It was a way cool experience, as we took one of our investigators around and got to get a feel for the culture of Sabahans. I even tried a bit of their dancing as well. It’s pretty tough! You move very slowly and make little tiny movements with your feet and wrists and elbows and knees all in a slow fluid motion. It’s kinda crazy. But as soon as I started to dance with some Malaysian guys EVERYONE started taking pictures of the white guys dancing. It was pretty entertaining.   :)

                         

   The adverse effects of the Harvest Festival Season all across Malaysia is that church attendance everywhere goes down, because many, many, many members go back to their villages to celebrate the festival. The same happened for KK, but not as bad as some. Some people come back to KK, but not as many that go. It’s ok though.

   But there was a bit of a sweet miracle this week. One of our investigators flat out disappeared on us at one point. We had not yet been to her house, and her phone was shut off and text messages would not even get sent to her phone. She had been SOOOO prepared by the Lord too, but all of a sudden she disappeared. Yet, I knew in my heart that we were not done with Ria (bus contact from a few weeks ago). Then, last Saturday the Sister Missionaries called us and told us that they had found her!!! She had lost her phone and had even tried to come to church, and didn't know where it was.  They gave her a map to the church, and the following Sunday she came!!! Oh, the Lord sure does take care of His lost coins.

    I hope you are all safe and healthy, and taking care of yourself. Don't have too much fun in the coming summer months. :D

Elder Willem Kampenhout

Week 45 - Malaysia - The Apostle of the Lord‏

May 24, 2011

Elder David A. Bednar

This week I was able to have a very special experience. Elder David A. Bednar had some business in West Malaysia, which just so happened to be when we were having a large Zone Conference. What great planning by our Mission President! :D About 40 of us single missionaries were able to sit and talk with Elder Bednar, his wife, and Elder and Sister Pratt of the Area Presidency for about 3 hours. WOOOOW. Talk about an incredible experience. The windows of heaven were open as we openly discussed many topics and principles, and it was just incredible. It has completely changed my life, and that was just 3 hours. It was an incredible experience. It was not just seeing a man and sitting 5 feet away from him, but it was that we had read two of his talks "Ask in Faith" and "Learning by Faith" and were thus prepared to discuss and be edified by all. We talked freely and openly, with laughter and seriousness as well. It was awesome. There were many a spiritual treasures which were opened to my mind and which I am currently writing down in my own "Personal Plates." Do you write down the spiritual impressions and understanding you receive in church and when reading the scriptures? I would suggest that doing so will change many a perspective in your life. Just listening and feeling the spirit can only last so long, but when you write it down, it becomes eternal. Where would we be if Nephi had only just remembered his stories and kept them to himself? I hope and pray that you would all find and do something similar. :D

      So a little bit of my observations about Elder Bednar. He is not the tallest man, yet he carries himself in such a way that is humble yet powerful at the same time. He has an intensity to him that shows just how much he loves this Gospel, and is serious in his discipleship. He is always down for a good laugh and can do so very well when he wants to, but he is aware of  himself at all times. Seeing a man of such faith is so inspiring, and with how much he has inspired me to be closer to God, I too desire to be a more shining example of the Savior in everything I do. It’s hard at times, in fact all the time, with the pressures of the world around us, but it is possible :) When he bore his testimony, it was done so simply, but there was such a unity with the Savior in his voice that it just absolutely vibrated you to the very soul if you were listening. I know that the Lord is directing His work on this Earth, and you will see many a miracle in the years to come that will testify of that.

    Sorry to write so little about that. It was such a sacred and moving experience. It was amazing. 

     As for the rest of my week, we had an incredible Zone Leadership training by President Clark, and it has completely driven me to become a better leader for those around me. The more and more I learn and progress in this work, the more I realize that I am so very little and can do nothing in and by myself, and that I realize how much I need to rely on the Lord. It really is His work, and we are only instruments. If we let Him tune us and sharpen us, we can be present when He makes His wonderful music for all to hear :D

    Well I hope that you all are doing well. I would HIGHLY suggest and urge you all to take a look at Elder Bednar’s talk "Ask in Faith."  

I love you all so much. I know the Savior Lives, and that as we draw closer to him, we draw closer to our true potential. 

    Your loving friend, brother, and son,

 Elder Willem Kampenhout