WEEK #92 & #93 - Death Will Die

Hello everyone!! Things have been a little crazy these past two weeks, I'll try to sum it up as best I can.

Every single companion that I've had likes fish. As amazing as my current companion, Elder Hunter, is, he doesn't like fish either. If there is ever a member that serves us fish we are in big trouble. We have been fed fish like 3 times already. It was troubling.

Things I don't like to eat:

-fish

-butter

-sour cream

-cream cheese

-onions 

-spaghetti squash 

If I get served a dish of all of these put together, I will be extremely humbled. 

I got to interview a deaf person for their baptism. I now know how to say yes, no, and understand in sign language. Score.

My entire mission, I've always dreamed to hear someone say "Look mom it's the Elders!!" Well, it's never happened. I'm in Malaysia. This past week I heard "Elders!!!!" We looked up and saw an American family that were members. Amazing. Dream fulfilled.

How was everyone's Easter?? So grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement. My Uncle Danny unexpectedly passed away due to cancer on the day of Christ's death. What a remarkable reminder that death will die. The resurrection will happen. I know I will see him again. My love goes out to his grieved yet still eternal family :) I know families can live together through the power of God given to His chosen servants. 

For those that have had a relative pass away, I encourage you to learn more about God's plan of happiness. The churches website (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or members can help.

Who loves getting food poisoning? I don't, but I did. We won't go into the details. Let's just say I'm feeling better now :)

On Wednesday we met with a man named Rommie who was interested to learn about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Halfway during the lesson, he interrupts and says "yeah, I'm actually a pastor for the local church here. I've heard this a thousand times." He was respectful and grateful for our service as missionaries. It was fun, I've never taught a pastor before!

  

Saturday was wild. I was in one lane in the road (bikes and cars share the same road) and needed to turn into the other lane. As I did, Elder Hunter followed behind me. Everything was fine until BAM. I find myself on the ground. A motorcycle hit me from the back and just launched me off of my bike. My knees and hands were scraped, got a hole in my pants, but other than that I was fine! The moto after hitting me then played human ping pong and hit the next 4 cars and then tipped over. Everyone was ok. That's twice in my life when I've been hit by a vehicle. Let's not make it 3rd times the charm!!

Love you all, have a great week!!

WEEK #90 & #91 - You Got It President

Hey everyone!! Have you ever gotten news that you weren't expecting? Times in my life when I wasn't expecting news:

1. When we were asked to move to connecticut
2. When my mom died her hair blond when I was in 6 grade (I cried cause I didn't recognize her).
3. When I got called to serve in Malaysia
4. When my brother was getting married
5. When you think your finishing your mission in Mukah and then you get emergency transfered to Kota Kina Balu.

I found a golden elk!!! 

Yup, I got emergency transfered, which means that I moved to a new area outside of the normal "moving time" in the mission.

Whyyyyyy

Kota Kina Balu is one of the farthest areas east in East Malaysia. There are a lot of tourist that come here because of how beautiful it is. If I could simplify how it compares to other areas in my mission, it would be like Kuala Lumpur (in west Malaysia) without a train system. Way cool! KK is known to have the best malay in the country, so that will really help my language.

 Welcome to KK!!
Beautiful.

 The sun is SOOO bright. 

 Let's go boating!!

  

 Jalan² (literal translation: walk walk, the "making sense" translation: just walking around)

 The capital building

 City boyyyy

 City lake

 No swimmingggggggg

 What a beautiful Mosque!!

The work has been great! We visited a member named Adrick, which is a far bike ride away. After finishing the lesson, we asked them if there were any neighbors around that happened to be Christian. They said, "you can try the house across the street but they won't be interested, trust me." As my companion and I walked over there, we discussed how we were gonna get into the door. When they opened the door, we said "Can we use your bathroom?" It worked haha. They really opened up and were able to feel the Spirit :)

First pancakes I've had in two years

Lizard timeeee

General Conference was great! It was interesting to watch it in Malay, some of the translations were a little hard to catch the idioms and such, but it was great!

The Branch President's family

I learned that there is no right way to do the wrong thing. Whatsoever is wrong, will always be wrong no matter how "right" you try to make it.

We love clean houses.

There were a lot of good reminders and testimony builders.

Have a great week!!