WEEK #68 - Singin in Sibu

Kamusta?? (You can try and guess which language that one is)

This week went well. 

Sleeping and Snoozin all the way to Mukah

Monday was good. My bike finally came! His name is bunga which means "flower" in Malay. Also everyone calls me Elder Bunga because of "LaRose." Fun stuff...

Do they fit?

Andre's family is doing great!! We taught them the word of wisdom on monday. We believe that the prophet Joseph Smith received revelation in regards to our physical and spiritual health. Through the abstinence of consuming alcohol, cigarettes. coffee, tea, and harmful drugs, we can have a healthy body and will always be able to feel the presence of the Spirit! Both of the parents (Andre and Pinny) love drinking coffee and tea. Ever since they started meeting with the missionaries their strong feelings towards these drinks weakened. They described it like coffee and tea didn't feel right on their tongues. Talk about God preparing His children to hear the message!! What a tender mercy. 

Ever tried mopping with a wok? It's fun!

Tuesday was a horrific day. When my bike got to Sibu, the back disk break was bent. The company that shipped it said they would have to check with the main company if they could reimburse the cost. There are two bike stores in Sibu. The one downtown didn't have the correct disk. The bike ship closer to our house had the correct disk, but didn't have the special tool to open the disk hahaha. So I either had two options: cut off the disk (very risky and could damage the other parts of the wheel), or I could send it to Kuching or Miri and get it fixed there which would be a very long and painful process. We tried one last time to go to the bike shop downtown and they had the tool to get it off! We then went back to the other bike shop and got the disk brake fixed. It was a four hour process. Very crazy!! But fun too...

Ever tried riding a bike with a suitcase in the middle? 

On wednesday I got to go on an exchange with.... ELDER JOHNSON!! We came out together in the MTC and have already been on a ton of exchanges in Miri, Masai, and now here in Sibu. He is such a good Elder!! 

Elder Johnson, the legend! 

On Friday we went on exchanges with Elder Haerewa. He is from Australia and probably knows my relatives!! 

Exchanges with Elder Haerewa 

Love, Elder LaRose

WEEK #67 - More Holiness Give Me

Hello Everyone!

This is gonna be a super super short email, probably the shortest one you will ever receive from me haha. 

This week we had zone Conference in Kuching. Me and Elder Cox gave a training called "Turn out not Burn out." so many times there are people who are interested to learn about the gospel, they feel the Spirit, but then they suddenly stop learning. Sadly, a lot of the times they are told by friends and family to not learn because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is false and is trying to lead people astray. Just like Jesus Christ, His Church, and prophets of old were rejected, so will it be in this time period. Nothing has changed. Jesus Christ's invitation is to "come and see." Come and see what it's like to be a member! It's great! This can add to the truths you already treasure.

I had exchanges with Elder Bowler in Kuching! He was my companion in the MTC. Throw backkkk!

Elder Bowlerrrrrr! 

On Friday Sister Lisa, a recent convert to the Church, was friends with another member who hasn't been to church in a long time. She invited us to come with her. The person actually wasn't home. So Sister Lisa looked at us and said: "I have a friend I want to share the gospel to. Let's go to her house!" An excitement to share the gospel is the true measure of one's love for the gospel. 

 Sister Kat aka best member missionary ever!

On Saturday I went to Sibu Jaya, about 30 minutes from Sibu City. There I went on exchanges with Elder Delis, who just recently came out. Way good Elder! I got a flat tire and so the whole day was twisted around, but we rolled with it! 

On Sunday there were two new families that came to church that we have been working with. The members did a wonderful job fellowshipping and helping them with the teachings and function of the meetings. All you need to do is care! Show interest in others. That is what Christ did and still does for each one of us. 

What a week! So much more to say with so little time. I love my mission and I know that the blessings of the gospel reach to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. Yes, even the wonderful country of Malaysia :) 

Jumpa lagi!!! 

  

Love, Elder LaRose

WEEK #66 - The New England Power

There have been a lot of changes this week.


On our last night with Awie's family, they told us there was a friend who wanted us to come over and bless their house. When we got there, it was a family!! We asked to share a little bit and were midway through the lesson one of Rohzana's other friends walks into the room and says, "I saw you missionaries here and wanted to tell you that our family wants to learn as well!" When we went to the other persons house, they also had a family! There were 2 more families gathered there. Rohzana and her kids just followed along to all of them and were really amazing and gave strong testimonies. After both family appointments she says, "Elders there is another family close to here that wants to learn as well. I will invite you over sometime." The spirit of missionary work is contagious! They are already super awesome member missionaries. I will miss that family so much!

Sibu is an amazing place. There is an actual church building here and there is a senior couple. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, older couples have the opportunity to serve a mission together for a certain period of time. The Stephens will be here in malaysia and are helping the branches here in Sibu. My new companion is Elder Cox. He is from New Jersey, so I can finally have a New Englander as a companion!! He is an awesome missionary and I look forward to serving with him.
 

We have already experienced a lot of miracles and it has been less than a week.

General Conference was this weekend. I was able to listen to all of the sessions in Malay which was interesting. Here are some quotes I was able to pick up from it:
- An actual change in someone's life needs the influence of the Holy Ghost.
- Sacrificing your life means you really are living your life in accordance to God's will.
- We cannot afford to judge others. We don't understand Heavenly Father's plan for them.
- Christ's invitation to come unto Him means we have to rely on Him to become like Him.

I will send some more thoughts next week when I get to watch the whole conference in English!

One miracle I saw this week was, we invited a lot of people to come to conference and this 14 year old teenager named Aveen showed up with his grandpa!! His grandpa turns out to have been previously taught by the Elders (Elder Cox actually taught him). He stayed for all 4 sessions of general conference. Sunday night we met with his family. His father is one of the most humble and sweetest people I have ever met. In the middle of the lesson he began to cry. He told us that ever since his son (Aveen) was born, he has stopped going to church. Last night his son begged him to come to church and he declined. Aveen finally got Andre (his dad) to meet with us. He told us he was very grateful for the influence of his son in bringing him back to the truth. He says he is ready to repent and change and bring his family in harmony with Heavenly Father's plan. It was a very tender experience.


The influence that you have (I am speaking to all those teenagers) on your parents is tremendous. Set the example to do what is right, and like Andre, they will have a softened heart and decide to make your home a more peaceful place :)

Love you all, have a good week!!

Love, Elder LaRose

AREA #7 - SIBU - October 11, 2018 - January 23, 2019

COMPANIONS:

MEMBERS:

WEEK #65 - Progression Hinders Regression!

Hello Everyone!!

What a week.

 Fireee!!

District Council was titled, "Be the Baby." The focus for the week was to teach simply and for understanding.

President John Taylor said, "It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself, and to unfold and simplify it so that a child can understand it."

It's contacting time!

Each missionary had one thing they needed to simplify into 1 or two sentences. Things like: the impact of the civil war, the way a watch or camera works, so on and so forth. Then we switched to the gospel. Members of the District had to simplify doctrine like the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the role of a prophet, and the need for repentance.

When we teach simply, misunderstandings rarely occur. This can apply to school, relationships, and anything else! Keep it real, keep it simple.

We had a lesson with Brother Jenis's family, who are almost reaching their year mark as members of the Church!

Brother Raymond's family

We read with them 3rd Nephi chapter 11. This chapter is one of the most sacred chapters in the Book of Mormon. We believe that after Jesus Christ was resurrected, He visited His "other sheep" mentioned in the Bible (John 10:16). Through His visitation, we now have the fullness of the gospel. In this chapter I learned that Heavenly Father tried to speak to the people of ancient America three times before they understood it was Him. The first two times they heard Heavenly Father, but they were still confused. The third time they finally heard and understood His voice. The difference between the first two and the third time are totally different. We can hear the word of God, the voice of the prophet, the counsel from our parents, etc. Hearing only makes the statement "in one ear and out the other" more of a reality. The moment we understand the word of God, prophets, and the counsel of our parents is when we finally get the message of the gospel into our hearts and feet. So, lets hear and understand this week!

 Brother Remon


As you know, we have church on Saturday for the youth that have school on Sunday. Our Branch President was in Kuching this week, so he couldn't conduct or preside. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are no pastors or fathers. There is someone who watches over the congregation, but normally every member has a part in the church service. Both of President Presly's counselors were working, and the Elders Quorum President couldn't make it either. So guess who presided and conducted? I did haha. It was weird but also a really cool experience.

Brother Taha's family 

Today was fun! We went on a hike to a place called "Blue Lake." In the middle of a mining construction sight, there is a huge beautiful blue lake. I'm not sure how it got there, but it was cool. Check out these pics.

 Desert

 Blue Lake!

 Malaysia Boleh!

 I'm surrounded by Malaysia.

I also got news today that I will be moving back to East Malaysia! It is a place called Sibu. Check it out on the map.

I am really going to miss Masai. It has been such a wonderful area. There are so many strong and amazing members. I've seen daily miracles. My comp is hard working, obedient, and awesome.


 JB District

I've learned a lot of life lessons in this area. I learned that we have to do the will of God. If we do the will of God but we really deep down inside want to do our own will, then we are not yet converted to His will. I've learned to have high expectations for everything. I've learned to love peoples' potential. Isn't it great we have eternity to become perfect! I've learned to laugh when things go wrong or are hard. I've learned God is at the helm of this Church, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God, and serving a mission is too precious to not do, too sacred to not take seriously, and too worthwhile to not apply it for an eternity.

Love love love you all!! See y'all next week!

Love, Elder LaRose