About the package, no need for
deodorant, still working on getting to the stuff you sent me the first time...
I will send you the definitive list
next Monday, lots of options etc, etc...
THIS WEEK.....
So basically we went on double
splits on Tuesday & Wednesday. That was fun.
Wednesday night however, Elder
Ferguson fell sick... and has thrown up 18 times since then. I am feeling fine
however and despite my confinement to a concrete almost windowless, fluorescently
lighted box for the past few days I’m doing alright, only half crazy...
On Friday one of the other Matang Elders
fell sick as well, so his companion and I went on splits. We went to some flats
in their half of the Matang area and went contacting. After that, we went and visited a member.
(We’ve begun asking Matthew to
answer questions in the emails from us and will be including the questions,
along with his answers in his blog going forward)
Mom:
I feel prompted to ask you to share with us an experience on your
mission where the Holy Ghost has guided you and has helped you know what to
say. Also, could you share with us what
the greatest blessing is that you have received thus far while on your mission?
Elder Halpin: There have been many
times when I have felt prompted to say something or do something... Honestly
mostly it’s been promptings to talk to certain people or say certain things to
people as we are about. For instance, on Friday, we knocked on a door, a lady
answered, and as we spoke to her i felt prompted to testify about the Holy Ghost
and how it could bless her life. We weren’t able to get a return appointment
but she said she would talk to her husband and read the restoration pamphlet
and start the Kitab Mormon and that she would call us if she wanted to learn
more. So yeah, nothing yet but we will see.
As for blessings, there are a lot. Both spiritual and physical. Probably
the biggest blessing I have received is knowledge, knowledge that i can rely on
the lord.
So yeah, that was my week. Elder
Ferguson is still kind of sick, so after this we will probably just limp home
and spend the rest of the day in the dungeon...
Glad to hear your week was better than
mine!!!
Also!!! On Tuesday, on splits, we
went to a member’s home and they gave us durian..... Actually it wasn’t as bad
as it was the first time, and I managed to eat 6 bijis... (6 seeds). yummy...
Also I am probably being transferred
next week. Maybe deeper into Sarawak. My
theory is that I’m going to Bintulu (I do have reasons for thinking this, it’s
not idle speculation), never know though. What I do know is that I am going to
hate saying goodbye to everybody here.... So yeah. If I do get transferred I
will know about 12 on Monday and probably fly out or bus out Thursday the 5th.
I forgot my SD card adapter so I
will borrow someone else’s camera and cord in a little while and send you guys
some pictures.
(Matthew and we were able to “email
chat” for a bit)
Mom: So you have been working a lot
with inactive members. How is your
little branch doing? How is the
priesthood leadership? How are the youth
doing? Do you see the branch becoming
stronger or is it going to be a much longer process?
Elder Halpin: President Mobil is
amazing, that being said it’s going to take a lot of effort over a long time to
reactivate a lot of these people. The Youth here struggle a lot. We’ve been
working with the young men in the branch a lot, and when we go to appointments
we bring one of them if we can. That all being said I feel like the branch is
stronger than when I got here.
Mom: Also, let Elder Ferguson know
that we will be praying for him.
Elder Halpin: Oh, Elder Ferguson
says "Well I haven’t got you sick yet, so that’s good"....
Mom: So you are waiting right now to
find out if you have been transferred?
Elder Halpin: No, transfers are next
week. Don’t mind my English it’s sort of gone off a cliff. I’m constantly
trying to remember words... As the people say here, "oh my English".
So here’s the deal with transfers. Basically the mission is being prepared for
a split, since the beginning it’s been like 2 different missions. In West Malaysia
and Singapore all they need is English and Chinese except for in one city. Also
the work is very different. You mostly work with Tamils and Chinese and a lot
higher percentage of the population is Muslim. So as the mission doubled in
size just after I came in a majority of the missionaries were English speaking.
Basically the President is putting all the Malay missionaries except a few in Sarawak
and Sabah preparing the mission. Because of this and because the President
wants to strengthen the cities, before pushing into the Kampungs, all the areas
in east (and most of west), with a few exceptions, are being split into 2 like
the Matang branch. There are still a lot of Malay missionaries in west and Singapore
right now finishing up the training of English Elders. This transfer they will
be finished. Anyway, basically, the only city not split up is Bintulu so my
theory is that I will go there to split an area, maybe with an elder from the West.
So yeah...
Mom: Has Elder Ferguson gone to the
doctor....Throwing up that many days is probably not the normal stomach
virus. He could have picked up a
parasite. Katherine says she feels sorry
for your sick companion. David says I hope Elder Ferguson gets well.
Elder Halpin: Also, when Elder Ferguson got sick in the US he was sick for several days too. That being said, he called Sister Mains and if he’s not better by tomorrow then he will go to the doctor.
Mom: That brings up a question - Are
you taking your vitamins and when will you run out? Are you using your preventive oils?
Elder Halpin: As for me, yes I’m
taking my vitamins. I don’t know when they will run out. I haven’t touched the
oils except for the clearskin stuff which I am now trying in conjunction with
face wash stuff.
Sincerely
Elder Halpin
Durian fruit before.
Durian fruit after.
They trick out the junkiest cars here.....
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