Dear Family,
I'm on a few hours early today
because we're all going to Singapore for ZONE CONFERENCE!!! I'm so
excited! Zone conference is always a much needed spiritual boost, and a
great opportunity to meet missionary leaders and friends. Even though I
was just in Singapore two weeks ago for MLC, I'm still really happy to go back
today. Most missionaries are having fits of hysteria over the fact that
we are going to be watching "Meet the Mormons" tomorrow! (I'll
admit, I'm really happy about it, too.) We're probably going to go to the
giant Ferris Wheel at Marina Bay, then have a badminton tournament with all the
West Malaysian Elders. I'll try to get some good pictures of our P-Day
for you.
In other news, the Schollenbergers
are back in Payson, Utah now. They've left Johor Bahru for good, and
everyone here really misses them. The new senior missionaries have moved
in, and are discovering just what an exciting and busy time of year it is as
they try to get adjusted. The Bensons, from Logan, UT, are
wonderful! Their excitement and enthusiasm to hasten the work of the Lord
will be a big help to the missionaries and member missionaries here in
JB! They've had quite a week to adjust to: Chinese New Year, with
incessant fireworks for days and nights on end, branch members arriving back
from the Philippines, driving to all the far reaches of JB, a Singapore border
crossing today, zone conference for most of this week, and a baptism coming up
on Saturday!
Oh! that's one miracle that I
haven't done a very good job of keeping you updated about. Do you
remember this part from my email to you a few weeks ago? : "...an elderly Chinese
man out for his afternoon walk. As we spoke to the man, he said he has
nothing to do with his time anymore so he'd love to come to church with
us. We didn't think he'd remember, but the next morning, he arrived at
church right on time! He stayed for all the classes and seemed to enjoy
reading from Gospel Principles, but he doesn't want us to come over to his
house to teach him, yet. I'll keep praying that he opens his heart to the
gospel message." Well, this Chinese man, Brother T, is
the one getting baptized on Saturday!! Ever since the first day we met
him, he's been coming to church consistently, and meeting with us twice or
three times per week. I probably didn't think to tell you all about his
teaching process because I've never seen anyone who accepted all the lessons
and commitments so smoothly, and with so few questions or concerns. It
just seemed a little too good to be true, and he was a no-stress investigator,
so he never weighed on my mind as I emailed you. Weird. Well, my
prayers, your prayers, our teaching, and his faith actually have helped
him to open his heart to the gospel message. I'll send pictures of the
baptism next week!
My faith in Jesus Christ, and my
belief that He really is just waiting to bless us with miracles, has been
strengthened so much lately. I wasn't expecting much out of this week of
Chinese New Year, but to say I was pleasantly surprised at what actually
happened is an understatement. This year was nothing like last year -
Molek was still drained of people and life, but we actually had what was
possibly our busiest week of the transfer nonetheless. On the anticipated
"dead day," the 19th, we began by speaking to a little Chinese auntie
next to KFC. She said "Oh, I'm Christian, too!" She lives
very far away, so we'll probably not be able to teach her often, but she was
very kind to us. She bought us both Hot Boxes at KFC, then took us to see
her fish farm. We followed her truck down a secret jungle road, met her
husband, and took a quick tour of their fishery. Later that day, we had
more opportunities to meet people in unlikely places, getting several phone
numbers and following up with investigators. The rest of the week was
even more packed, with several appointments each day, and hardly enough time
for our weekly planning session.
I know the Lord is watching out for
me. Even more importantly, I know He is watching over all of God's
children and preparing their hearts to receive the gospel. I also pray
that He will always watch over, protect, guide, and provide for all of you!
Love you lots! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Brennan
Me, KFC, the hidden fish farm.
The fish farm. (with Elder Mitchell, not me. Just in case you
couldn't tell:)
Morning exercises in Melaka - Back
Alley Badminton
"Squid Crackers, Ooh, ooh
ooh!"
I call this one, "Bayu,
Bicycle, and Kampung"
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