27 June 2016

Hello folks,

This has been a really exciting week here with the arrival of my new companion! I have now been here for about 4 and a half months. This is the longest area I have been in so far on my mission and I LOVE IT. This week has been a bit of an adventure. Right now my companion is using the spare bike (old sister missionary bike). Get this. He is a big guy. Like he is playing football for USU after his mission. He's a lineman so yeah, rightfully, he is a big boy. And he is on this half-pint bike. It's quite a sight. Poor fella. I had to use that bike when I had my seat snap off on me and it was not the best time so I can't imagine how he feels. 

Anyway! We had a fun week visiting with various members and non-members. We all of a sudden have had a lot of people ask us to help them move recently so good thing we have two big boys here to help them out! 

There is one family.  They are so awesome. They are like my second family. The mom calls me anak (child) and I call her Indai (Iban for mom). They are really strong and really have a great understanding of the Gospel. They help us out a lot with missionary work and are just plain awesome. 

We have some awesome people who are starting to really progress towards baptism. One is a 19 year old guy. He is SOOOO cool. He is a Chinese Iban mix. We found him through his sister who we taught before she moved to another place. About a year ago, he had no knowledge whatsoever of God. But had some good coworkers that invited him to their church and then we found him and he loves to learn about it. Such a cool feller. He will be hopefully ready to be baptized near the end of July so there is that to look forward to! 

One other investigator who is progressing.. She is the mother of one of our members and she is really sweet. She is going to be baptized on the 21st of July which is her birthday so that is really fun and we are looking forward to that.

Dang. Thank goodness for a restoration. God is truly merciful. I have learned a lot about other churches here and something my companoin and I said to each other the other day is "no wonder Joseph Smith was so confused." If a church claims to be a true church, don't be convinced by the craftiness of men, be convinced by the power of the Holy Ghost. That's why we have it. A lot of people just follow a church here because it's easier or their friends go there and so on. Just think about what you are willing to give up to know God. Anyway. I know this is the true Church. God wants to bring us joy and happiness and I have never seen or felt more joy or happiness in my life than when I am trying to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ through prophets old and modern. IT"S SO COOL. 

Anyway, I love you all and I'll talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder Hanks

6 June 2016

Hello everyone,

This week was a bit of a cultural dive. On the first of the month this week, Malaysia celebrated Hari Gawai which is the big harvest festival of the year. Apparently it is a really big thing. Like, there is Christmas, and then there is Gawai. Just another time to eat tons of food visit family and stuff. We followed some members around as they visited their friends and family and I have never eaten so much food at one time in my life. Each house you go to, you have to eat what is given. A lot is always given. I couldn't keep my stomach in. Eventually it went back in don't worry. One way sweet thing I saw was this old man. (look at my dropbox) He had quite a story. He is 103 and is just jalan-jalan-ing like normal. So Malaysia has a historical culture of head hunting which has been gone for quite a while and it is rare to find anyone who was a head hunter anymore. But, hidden in a kampung which we visited, there he was. He had participated in the head hunting for most of his life. He was also a known forest wizard/healer. He served in WWII for the Japanese burning villages at that time. A bunch of things like this. He sounds pretty merciless but he was a way sweet guy. When he turned 100 he became Christian. That's a nice achievement in his life I think.

Anyway, besides eating and stuff like that, it was a pretty hard week. I have felt very persecuted but I have also never felt strangely happier. I love a quote that Jeffery R. Holland said last conference. He said that "His divine love and unfailing help will be with us even when we struggle—no, will be with us especially when we struggle." I have never felt that more in my life. I don't have a lot else to write about. Of course stuff happened this week but but I am not sure how to write about it. Pretty much Satan sucks and will use anything to deteriorate your being, but you can get rid of that way fast through the Gospel. There have been a few times I have gotten way pumped because I have felt that I literally (more or less) punched Satan in the face. Anyway, I guess one scripture that I have loved this week is from
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Dang that's good. That's brought me hope this week. I love this. Anyway, I love you all. 

Love,

Elder Hanks