This week was crazy good. So transfer news came out! Elder Curtis and I were in Miri 2, and Elder Johnson and Elder Bennion were in Miri 1. Sister Bithell and Sister Sabin were in Miri 2, and Sister Taha and Sister Masam were in Miri 1. The transfer news looked like this:
Elder Curtis is getting transferred
Miri 1 Elders: Elder Curtis, Elder Johnson
Miri 2 Elders: Elder LaRose, Elder Bennion
Miri 1 Sisters: Sister Masam, Sister Sabin
Miri 2 Sisters: Sister Bithell, Sister Taha
Me and my new companion Elder Bennion
Everyone just switched places! It was a unique transfer! Later on that day, President Simmons called with some news. Previously, two Elders from Indonesia had to leave Indonesia and come to our mission for a while. Turns out, they have been admitted back into Indonesia. President needed two Elders to fill their spots, so Elder Curtis is now actually going to Sandakan in KK, and Elder Johnson is going to Kuching! So that meant that Elder Bennion and I were covering both Miri 1 and Miri 2! I'm way excited. If you were to bike from one end of Miri 1 to the other end of Miri 2, it would take you around 3 hours. So we are going to have to use our time wisely and be lead by the Spirit daily!
District Meeting was special these week. Elder and Sister Rowley were there! So here's another slightly complicated story haha. Elder and Sister Childs are the senior couple in Miri. Normally missionaries are of the ages 18-26, but as a couple you are able to serve another mission. So the Child's (current senior couple) are finishing their mission soon. Elder Rowley was the Mission President of Indonesia. He did not finish his time there, so he will be the new mission president over the Singapore Mission after President Simmons finishes in July. Now Elder and Sister Rowley will be based in Miri, but are now a senior couple who work with Leaders to help youth who are age worthy of serving a mission. They are wonderful! He served a mission in Indonesia when he was a younger missionary, so he can speak really good Malay!
The training was titled, "Purposeful Planning= Achieving Our Purpose." Elder Ballard shared that the power of this work is when we get to the point of knowing exactly what we need to do from the Spirit. Elder Holland also shares that we can "make or break our mission every morning of our life." Why? Because planning is so important. Being led by the Spirit to know where to go, what do to, what to teach, and who to speak with is so important.
On Thursday we normally hold a planning session called" Weekly Planning." In this period of time (normally 2 hours) we prayerfully plan for every individual we are working with: potential investigators, new investigators, progressing investigators, recent converts (those who were recently baptized), members, and less active members. Because we were planning for two areas, it took 3 hours long, but it was still fun :)
We were teaching one of our investigators named Simon and Winie. We were sharing a message about the Plan of Salvation, and really focused on how they can live together as a family forever! We helped them understand that the only way we can live together forever is through being baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authority of God. When we invited him to be baptized, he said in his broken English, "That is no problem, I am on standby." haha it was funny but also way cool!
We were able to see a broadcast from Elder Christiansen! He is in the presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy. He spoke to us about repentance and revelation. He asked us 3 questions about repentance that really opened up my perspective:
1. Do you treat repentance as a friend or a foe?
2. Do you see repentance as humiliation or humility?
3. Is repentance a strength or a stresser?
Our perception of repentance is very crucial. Repentance is positive. When we are humble, that is when our weaknesses can be made strong. Repentance is a gift from the Giver, Jesus Christ. Repentance should be said with a smile! We have a chance everyday to change. Choose to change!
After the broadcast, we had about 30 minutes before we had to head home. Elder Bennion had the idea to get an OTS (on the spot). That is when we contact someone and they are ready to learn right then and there, so we teach them a lesson! We sat down with a man named Ujang who turns out to be a long time former investigator. He knows Brother Sanggai and lives right next to him. Brother Sanggai was a recent convert as of two years ago. I heard he was one of the strongest members that missionaries have ever seen. He would follow the Elders around on a broken bike all day long, and would have someone new for the missionaries to teach every week. He moved to a far away place from the church. He made the 3 hour trek on a motorcycle for a while, but then it got too expensive and stopped coming. Until now, no one had ever seen or heard from him again. We just found the lost Brother Sanggai! We are planning to visit him this week. What a unique miracle!
Sunday was a little different! Because we cover two branches, we went to two sacrament meetings! That was a really cool experience because I was able to have more time to ponder about the Savor during the sacrament. Elder and Sister Childs were giving their farewell talk. It was sad to see. They have done so much for this place! I had the opportunity to translate for them which was unique. Sabbath days are the best!
I hope everyone has a great week and you have some miracles of your own as well :)
Love you all!
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