Week #96 & #97 - Bah Bah Bah Bah

Hello hello!

Don't worry about the sheep title, in sabah when someone in America would typically say "OK", people in Sabah say "Bah." you know those people that say "ok ok ok ok" like 10 times? Yeah, it's bah over here, but more then 10 times haha.

Sabah is doing awesome!! It's beautiful with its beaches and islands in the distance. I love riding a bike everyday for miles on end.

When you fit 4 bikes into a 4 person elevator

We had a good service opportunity. The church is located on top of a very steep hill. A member came up to us in the church and told us that his car had died and needed some help pushing it. We looked around the parking lot and didn't see the car. He said, "Oh its at the bottom of the hill." We got it up the hill into the parking lot but my legs were rocks afterwards!!

We met a couple of guys that allowed us to share the message of the Restoration. After sharing Joseph Smith's experience, Well (that's his name) said "I don't believe Joseph Smiths story." To his surprise I responded, "That's so awesome. Would you like to know why I believe?" I love people who don't believe but are still willing to meet and keep commitments. The willingness of one to experiment upon the word of the Restoration is one of the greatest signs to God that they are acting in that small seed of faith.

He is right, it's just a story. But when you come to know for yourself of its truthfulness, it becomes a reality. :) 

Guess who I got to see????? ELDER VAN GILS!!!!! We served together in my second transfer. He and a couple of other returned missionaries were coming to see the members again. Really really special. 

For some reason lighting is really attracted to me. Maybe I have some weird metal thing in my body. We were 50 yards from a tree that got struck and fell into the road. 

The branch conducted a harvest festival party. It's kind of like gawai for those that have read my emails last year in Sarawak. It's basically like Thanksgiving, where the rice is fully ready to be harvested and everyone can eat and dance and enjoy the culture. Way fun! 

This past week we went to Singapore for Zone conference!! It was my last one. Here are some thoughts:

—the yielding to temptation withdraws the Spirit and therefore makes it harder to overcome the temptation. 

—"Your mission is hard until you think it's not." If we think something is hard, there are two solutions: make a solution and act, or have a different perspective with an attitude of gratitude. 

—Becoming a disciple of Christ is one of the hardest but most rewarding things you can do. 

—Give it all to the Lord because He gave it all for you. 

I had to give my dying testimony. A dying testimony is the last one you give in a zone Conference. I told everyone that it was my living, not dying testimony haha. I will share more when that day comes! 

Wednesday was one of the most challenging days on my mission. I went on an exchange with Elder Verkler. He's been in the area for two days, his throat is hurting so he couldn't talk, and is the second ward in Singapore which means IT'S STRAIGHT CHINESE MAINLANDERS. My Chinese is ok, but to be finding the whole day by myself was very challenging and entertaining for those around me haha. 

Fishing is one of my favorite sports. Fishing for bike lights in a sewer isn't one of my favorite sports. We used a palm tree branch as we were sprawled out on the ground. We finally got it! It now turns on sporadically which is probably a side effect of water damage :) 

Someone we are teaching had his wife pass away unexpectedly. He is a Christian, and believes that she is with Jesus, but still isn't sure how it all will work out. To share with him the plan of salvation was one of the sweetest moments on my mission. After he understood God's plan, we saw the tears run down his face for the loss of his wife turn into tears of joy. 

Have a great week!! 

There are missionaries like me who are serving in the Guilford/Madison area. Here is their number if you have any questions :)

WEEK #95 - 95 Days, Right?

Hello Everyone!!

Come say hi to me!! I will be giving a homecoming talk (which means I will be finishing my mission) at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 23rd of June at 10am. My brother, Keldon, will be giving his farewell talk at the same meeting (meaning he will be leaving on his mission soon). After the church service there will be a luncheon (what does that mean in English?) at my house full of Malaysian and Colorado food. (My mom will send more details)

This is what is called a "Pasar malam" or a night market. Hundreds of people come to eat fresh caught sea food. 

This week zipped right by! Elder Hunter and I are working hard and having fun!

Speaking of fun, we bought horns that attach onto our bike so that we can warn others of our passing. We took it a step further to protect our safety by riding very close to people passing by and honking ridiculously to get a good scare. It's been great haha. 

Cool park!

Malexis and Sophia are a couple that we have been working with for a while. They have read the Book of Mormon, prayed to God, but have still yet come to church. We were planning on stopping teaching them when we felt like we should give it one more week. Saturday night comes around and they texted us saying that they will be attending their own church. The next morning we were waiting for church to start when in walks Malexis and Sophia!!! After the sacrament meeting they told us "Yeah we were just joking with you last night, of course we were coming." I forgot that jokes were also applicable here as they are in the states haha.

Anyone ever see a red skinned banana before??

Happy Mothers day to all!! For some it may be pre-mothers day as well. I love my mom. She is always willing to help when we need help. She is always in tune with the spirit and loves to be fun and energetic. I can see her hitting her 70s and still wanting us to do fun adventures. Awesome! Her faith in Jesus Christ and love for the gospel has done more for our family than any other thing. Ask her how she is so amazing, she will tell you all her secrets :)

See you next week!! 

WEEK #94 - Boleh Bah

**SAVE THE DATE** McKayd will be giving his Homecoming talk on June 23rd at 10am with an open house to follow. More details coming. PS His brother, Keldon, will be giving his Mission Farewell talk the same day.***


Sabah is amazing! "Bah" is best translated into English as an exclamation point. Boleh means "Can."

Any time you are going to say something that you want emphasis added to, just say "Bah"! In West Malaysia and Sarawak you say "lah." Pretty crazy, right?

When Malaysia is so hot you stick your backpacks in the fridge, and your helmet and shoes in the freezer. 

This week went by pretty fast. Brother Adrick is a part member family. We watched the restoration video together with them. The atmosphere when we walked into the room, and the atmosphere after hearing again the words of Heavenly Father "Joseph, this is my Beloved Son, hear Him," was completely different. The Holy Ghost (also known as the Spirit) is real.

I tried to make my mom proud by patching my pants that got a hole in them from the motorcycle accident. I got the needle double threaded and everything. I realized I didn't have any material that matched the color of my pants. I immediately gave up and found a street sewer who did an OK job. Sorry mom!

The shades are on. 

There is a less active we are meeting named Ridle. He has a lot of challenges in his life and was wondering how to overcome them. We read two scriptures that I invite you to read: Mosiah 2:41 and 3 Nephi 13:31-33. If we really apply these two scriptures in our lives, the Lord will bless and sustain us.

Brother Ridle

Elder Uchtdorf gave a talk in general conference titled "4th floor last door." He shares a story of these missionaries knocking apartments. They knocked the entire apartment with no luck. As they got to the top floor, there were two doors. One of them did not looked occupied. They knocked on the last door and long story short the family that loved in that apartment was able to receive the restored gospel. We felt like we had a general-conference-like experience. Every single door we knocked was either Muslim or didn't answer. The verrrryyy last door opened and they were a Christian family. We were able to meet the Dad and are looking to meet the family this week.

 The cat climbed up onto my back and sat there for half of the lesson. Crazy!

I've noticed the Lord rewards us according to our faith. It's the "last minute" or the "by the hair of our chins" kinda faith that He wants to see. What a great way to grow our faith!

This next week will begin my last transfer on my mission. I will return with honor. Thanks again to all those who have supported me. See you next week!