Come, Come, Ye Saints

Well, my friends, this week has been a good one. We got to go do some contacting in a rarely-visited place known as Tabuan Jaya, and have gotten 8 new names and numbers from our efforts. Hopefully those will result in new investigators this upcoming week.

Quick Spiritual Thought: The Lord really does expect us to do our best and leave the rest up to Him. We have to do EVERYTHING we can, and then pray that it is an acceptable offering to the Lord. Through the enabling power of His Atonement, I testify that we can truly do anything. The Lord is marvelous. Yesterday in Church one of our relief society sisters said something that I really liked (pardon me for not putting tone marks on here, I'm too lazy): "Tianfu de quanbing duome lihai!" In English (roughly): How awesome is Heavenly Father's authority! And how true that statement is! I know that He lives and longs for us to have a relationship with Him, one that will outlast this mortal sphere and that will extend into the eternities. I'm so grateful for the sealing power of the Priesthood, and for the eternal nature of the family. I know that this Church is true, and I know that the Lord is at our head.

In conclusion, I've been a little bad about sending out pics to errbody, so I'm trying to repent. Here are some that will hopefully brighten your day :)

[The pictures Elder Sam tried to send would not upload.  He's going to try again next week.  Sorry:) ]

"Happy [Easter], Harry!"--Hermione Granger

Fun fact: Hermione actually said "Happy Christmas, Harry!", but since right now isn't quite that time of year I had to revise the statement :) But, you could say that this is THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, since without Easter, we wouldn't have Christmas. Boom. :)

This past week has been awesome. I've had a chance to really reflect on the power of the Savior in our lives. For instance: This past weekend we had the chance to set up another one of the family history booths. It was in a much slower mall than last time's experience, but that's okay. We were able to have our booth there for two days; on the morning of the second day, during my Personal Study, I had a chance to reflect on the Atonement as I finished reading the Gospel of John. I then took a moment to look at one of my little photo albums (I've got three or four of them) that contained pictures of my family in it. 

The Atonement is that enabling power that binds families together for time and for all eternity. The sacrifice of our Savior is the salvation for siblings, spouses, parents, children, ancestors, and descendants. Easter is a time for remembering these things. Over here in Kuching, people seem to be more focused on celebrating Good Friday--they'll go to church for the one and only time of the year, maybe drink some communion wine, sing a few hymns in Latin, and then go along their merry way. One of the senior sisters here mentioned something that really brought to my mind the place that Good Friday has in our beliefs and where emphasis truly should be placed. She said something to the effect of: "Mormons do celebrate Good Friday. We celebrate it every Sunday when we partake of the Sacrament."

How true that is! Easter, my friends, is a time to keep in remembrance the sacred sacrifice of the Son of God. But Easter is also a time of holy rejoicing, of celestial joy, of comfort and peace. At Easter our focus should be less on the cross and more on the empty tomb; less on the garments that were gambled for, and more on the clean white clothes neatly folded within Joseph of Arimathea's sepulcher. HE LIVES, and while He lives, we can do nothing but sing and shout with the armies of heaven! HE LIVES, and because He lives, we can be with our loved ones, our family members, our departed kindred, for the eternities. HE LIVES, and since He lives, we can be cleansed from any weakness or wickedness that besets us. HE LIVES! It surely is the most joyous of messages in this world; the good news, the glad tidings of great joy, the grand amen to all of His marvelous works of creation. 

I took one of my little photo albums with me to the booth this past weekend. When they asked why family history was important, and why should we be doing it, I told them: "Hold on one second--here's my family history. Take a look and see." As they flipped through the pictures and commented on how pretty my sisters are, I couldn't help but feel that the Spirit was softening their hearts in some degree. Everything we talk and teach and preach about can be referred back to Christ, especially our families. Because of Him, I can live with my family forever. Because of Him, I'm not lost in a state of despair. Because of Him, I can see and be with my brother again--and that, my friends, will be the sweetest gift that He can give me. God so loved the world that He sent His Only Begotten Son, and because of that, we never have to walk alone. We never have to be afraid. As we like to say in Chinese: Buyao pa, zhiyao xin :)

Hope that you've all had a tremendous Easter!

Yours,

Elder Mitchell :)

Short, Sweet, and To The Point

Yo yo yo! What's up, my peoples? :)
I don't have much to report on this week, since I'm going to be giving you a commitment at the end of this here thought. This past weekend we got CONFERENCE here in Kuching! It was a joy and an opportunity to be able to watch it :) I loved every minute of it! The Lord seems to be conveying a sense of urgency in this Conference. The work is hastening, brothers and sisters--the time for members and missionaries to work together is NOW. The time to dissolve fears and pride and hatred and anger and doubts is NOW. The time to aid the Lord in whichever part of the vineyard you may be in is NOW. The time is NOW. (Or, as we like to say here in Malaysia and Singapore, the time is NOW lah!). The Lord empowers those who put their trust in Him. The Lord gives strength to the weak. The Lord lifts up the weary. The Lord binds up the brokenhearted. In the words of one of my all-time favorite verses of scripture, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

I realize that many, if not ALL, of you have probably had the opportunity to watch Conference last week, but I encourage you to review and, if necessary, re-watch it again in the upcoming days. The messages contained within reveal to us the Lord's will for His Church today, and His will for all of us as individuals.

I love you all, and hope that He will continue to guide and bless you :)

Sincerely,

Elder Mitchell

Hello Errbody

Another week, another destiny! This past week has seen some pretty great things--potential investigators, new investigators, Zone Conference in Singapore, the whole shabang! It's been an awesome adventure :)

At Zone Conference I decided to try taking notes a little differently than I have before. I've been studying the topic of humility, and that was the theme of the notes. I learned a lot about humility, and also a lot about being just a good missionary in general. 

I've had the chance to kind of sit back and reflect on my mission experience this past week. I'm so grateful for the chance to be a missionary. To share the Gospel with people all day errday--and it's not just something that missionaries do. Any and everyone can. The Gospel is one of good news. It's meant to be shared. It's meant to be given to the world.

That's about all for this week, folks. Love ya lots--Keep on keepin' on :)
Mosiah 7:33 lah!

Sincerely,

Mai Zhanglao/ 麦长老

Keepin' On In Kuching

Yo yo yo my homies,

This past week has been another great one. We've had some really good lessons; the unity between me and my companion is growing and our teaching is getting better each and every lesson. Some of our lessons this week were SUPER AWESOME :) We met with a former investigator on Saturday night, and she committed to coming to Church the next day. We set the expectation of staying for at least one hour of Church...and she stayed for ALL 3 HOURS! And then for a few minutes afterwards, during which time she was busy being fellowshipped by our awesome members. I tell ya what, it brought a smile to this heart of mine :)

This upcoming week we have Zone Conference--Singapore here we come! It's been quite some time since I've been to Singapore; I'm super stoked to go and see friends and hopefully some Chinese YSA peeps as well. Speaking of Chinese: The best way to soften a Chinese person's heart is to tell them that you're from China and then wink at them. It also helps when you're a skinny, white, redheaded kid, but that's not a must. I encourage you to give it a shot the next time you run into yige huaren :)
I've had the chance to learn a lot about charity and love this past week. It's been a good study, and has definitely helped increase my love and respect for the Savior. The fact that He was able to love and serve others without (in certain cases) an inkling of reciprocation is so astounding to me! I personally enjoy it when I get positive feedback from someone that I've been trying to befriend; and it sure does hurt a lot when you get the cold shoulder from someone you've been working so hard to help. But the Savior managed/manages to take all of this and CONTINUE loving that person. No matter what. He suffered for the righteous and the wicked, the whole and the sickly. The gifts of the Atonement are extended to all people. That's certainly a comfort to those of us who are far from perfect (aka yours truly :) ).

Well, folks, remember who you are and what you stand for :) The Lord has a plan for all of us; I don't want to pretend like I understand it, 'cuz I certainly do NOT. I do know, however, that the Lord intends for all of us to experience a fulness of joy, and that joy can only come from having a fulness of the Gospel. Keep on keepin' on, folks!

Love you all,

麦长老

Keep On Keepin' On :)

Fun fact: There were ten random Koreans that showed up to Sacrament meeting yesterday. They're studying English in Malaysia (which is something that I don't quite understand, personally, since Malaysian English is...well, Malaysian English. 'Nuff said :) ). Either way, though, they're super awesome, and we're going to be teaching them English on Wednesday nights. They taught me how to say 'promise' in Korean, so I'm content :)

Another fun fact: Lu ho bo? Lu ay hiao fujianhua bo? Yep, that's right--I be picking up some Hokkien! Otherwise known as Fujianhua, Hokkien is one of the prominent dialects spoken here in Kuching. We've ran into several people in the farther reaches of the city (aka Chinese kampungs) that don't speak: 1) English; B) Malay; III) Iban; or Quatro) Mandarin. Suoyi ne? I'm trying to pick up some Hokkien so I can converse with them. At least enough to tell them that I'm from China (fun fact: Best way to win a Chinese heart is to be a redhead and tell them you're from China :) ), and that no, I don't speak Hokkien; do you spreckon ze Mandarin ma? :)

Third fun fact: I'm really trying to revamp my Language Study this week. I've been working on a killer language study plan that will increase my vocab and that will help me start learning how to read and write (simplified, of course). I feel like the biggest barriers to my Chinese right now are a lack of vocab and the fact that I can't use the actual Chinese writing system in teaching situations. There's SO MUCH meaning behind so many characters--I really have a desire to unlock the potential they have while teaching. It's gonna be a party. In other words: This week is going to involve a crackdown on language study, ranging from increased vocab to studying characters to learnin' me some Hokkien.

This past weekend was the grand opening of our FAMILY HISTORY BOOTH :) We set it up in a mall and talked with people about family history. We handed out dozens, if not hundreds, of flyers and pass-along cards, and took down the names of those people interested in learning more. It was a really cool experience, and we're excited to continue using this tool in our proselyting.  Hopefully it will help push the work forward here in Kuching :)
Last night we met with a really solid family in our branch for dinner.  One of the members started sharing a lot of really personal details about his life. I'm not going to get into them here, but suffice it to say he'd made some mistakes. As he was telling the story to us in Malay and as it was being translated into  English for us non-Bahasa speakers, I couldn't help but feel the Savior's love for him and the fact that the Atonement had changed this man's life for forever. That's the way the Lord works. He gives us second chance after second chance, and He always will as long as we accept said chances. I've had a chance to really stop and think about what the Atonement means to me and to my family. I am so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for His willingness to condescend to earth to bring us all back up to live in celestial courts on high.

I hope and pray that you all have a wonderful day and week! 

Keep on keepin' on :)

Mai  Zhanglao :)

Turnin' Hearts Like Bosses

Here we be again-another P-Day, another destiny :)

This past week has been BUSY! I'm amazed at the enthusiasm that the Lord has for missionary work. Often times I think of it just as us missionaries and members being excited to go share the Gospel with people, but I sometimes forget that the Lord is even more anxious for others' salvation than we are.

I feel that excitement here in Kuching. Things are just falling into place too well to call it a coincidence. Most things in life are like that, really, but I never really recognized or appreciated that until I became a missionary. Things really have been put into some great perspective here :)

In other news: Family history! Boom! It's certainly one of the greatest tools in a missionary's arsenal. Working with the family history senior couple, we're working on developing a family history pamphlet/brochure that we can start passing out to people. In addition to that, we're going to be able to set up a booth that will also broadcast information about family history to the world. Everyone has a family, and most everyone loves their families. Yesterday, we decided to go do a little bit of contacting. We knocked on one door, and the Buddhist who answered was at first hesitant and even against talking with us...but then we whipped out the family history card and the Spirit took care of the rest. Although he didn't show much interest in the Church at all, he was interested in the site and (as far as we know) will be looking into it in the near future. Moments like that: 1) Restore my faith in humanity; and B) Help me appreciate the power of family history. The Spirit of Elijah really can penetrate even the hardest of hearts and can soften anyone to the truthfulness of the Gospel. 

Today for Personal Study I had the opportunity to study a LOT about the Savior. More than usual, I mean. Today's focus, without any prior preparation by yours truly, consisted of Luke 2, Mosiah 4 (the beginning few verses), and a chapter from Jesus the Christ. It was awesome to reminisce on the Redeemer of mankind. He loves each and every one of us--I know that that is a fact. I have felt that love guiding and helping me through life. I'm so grateful for His sacrifice and for the Atonement that He performed. I am grateful that even though I am far from perfect, I can one day rest with Him and with my family forever. 

Keep on keepin' on.

Love you all,

Mai Zhanglao