Singapore Mission

253 Bukit Timah Road, 5th Floor

Singapore 259690

Singapore

Mission President - President Stephen A. Simmons 

The mission office is the white building behind the Singapore chapel.

Areas and Companions

July 13, 2016 - MTC - Elder Spencer Yu

Sept. 14, 2016 - Klang, Malaysia - Elder Samuel Rogers

Jan. 18, 2017 - Sitiawan, Malaysia - Elder Griffin Gould

Feb. 28, 2017 - Singapore - Elder Ethan Shirley

April 11, 2017 - Singapore - Elder Elieson

May 27, 2017 - Butterworth, Malaysia - Elder Tucker Johnson

July 5, 2017 - Butterworth, Malaysia - Elder Corbin Florence

September 27, 2017 - Sibu, Malaysia - Elder Tan

November 8, 2017 - Sibu, Malaysia - Elder Wang

An Unexpected Journey

Well, I want to update you on a few of the things that have happened in the last week. I was flown back to the US on Medical leave. They brought me home to look at a tumor. It is pretty big, but we don't know if it is benign, cancerous, or what it is. A Biopsy will give us further information for where we are now lacking. I have had the support of many wonderful people here, and I know that that support will continue as I face this. Thanks for the concern. 

While we may not know, we do have hope, and the spirit has come to me in a time of great need. I thank you for anyone who has helped and supported me! This may be a hard time, but I have confidence in the Savior.

Sincerely,

Nathan Allen

Welcome Home, Elder Allen

Elder and Sister Cross, Nathan, Sister and Elder Walker at the airport in Singapore.  Sister Cross accompanied Nathan on his long flight home.

 Nathan and Sister Cross left Singapore at 8 am on Wednesday, November 20.  Their flight from Hong Kong to LA was late and caused them to missed their connecting flight to Salt Lake.  Nathan took a later flight but Sister Cross stayed in LA to catch her flight home.  She completely missed Thanksgiving and flew almost 20,000 miles to bring Nathan safely home to us.  We are grateful for her selfless service.  Nathan was traveling for over 24 hours but with the time change it was still Wednesday.

Waiting for Nathan at 6:30 pm on the busiest travel day of the year.  Even better than a pie party.

Welcoming Nathan home at the airport (1:06): https://youtu.be/5sQL8ZfEANU

Talking with the mom of a Malaysia missionary he knows.

After we took this picture, Nathan and Bill went by ambulance to Huntsman Cancer Hospital.  He stayed overnight and had a CT done.  He got out in time for Thanksgiving Dinner. We'll get a biopsy this coming week.  Nathan was released by our Stake President, Greg Spencer, on Thanksgiving evening.

Talking to Alissa at Huntsman Cancer Hospital

Friday we went to the temple.  This same group was in this same place just before his mission, too.

An Email from Nathan's Mission President

Sunday Bill and I wrote our emails like usual to Nathan.  I didn't let myself stay up late waiting for his email so when I woke up early Monday morning, I checked my email right away.  Instead of a letter from Nathan, there was one from his mission president...

Stephen Simmons <stephen.simmons@ldschurch.org>	Nov 20, 2017, 1:39 AM
to bill.r.allen@gmail.com, me, Singapore, Singapore

Dear Brother & Sister Allen,

I am contacting you regarding some very concerning news regarding your son, Elder Allen’s, health which I must unfortunately inform you about.  He may have already relayed this information to you in his weekly email as he was headed to do his emailing after he finished his visit to the doctor a few hours ago.

Elder Allen contacted Sister Cross, our mission nurse, this morning and told her that he was feeling some sharp pains in his lower abdomen.  She instructed him to go to a doctor to be checked out.  He did that this morning (Monday 20 November.)  Images were taken and the doctor has indicated that there is a tumor growing under his bladder.  There are indications that some spreading has occurred as well.

The Asia Area Medical Advisor, Elder Sellers, has directed us to have Elder Allen return home immediately for treatment. Accordingly, Elder Allen will be flying into Singapore tomorrow early afternoon from Sibu.  We will get him on a flight back to the US departing on Wednesday morning.  He will arrive at SLC at 2:20 PM on Wednesday on American Airlines.  We will send a copy of his international itinerary to you once we receive it from church travel.

Elder Allen has been a very diligent missionary and I am sure the Lord is very mindful of this faithful servant at this time of great concern.  When I spoke with him this afternoon, he told me that he is “a little bit scarred.”  He received a priesthood blessing this morning before he went to the doctor.  I will ask his fellow missionaries to keep him in his prayers once we have a better understanding of what is going on for sure.

I am sorry to have to share this information with you, but I know that he will be cared and loved by you and other family members and friends.

I would be grateful if you would confirm that you have received this email.  I would be glad to call you and discuss any concerns you might have as well.

I am copying Elder & Sister Cross in our mission office who are coordinating his travel and will be assisting him when he arrives here in Singapore.

Thank you,

President Simmons

+65 9834 5400

Contacting in Sibu

This week we had a big focus of contacting in my area of Sibu with my new companion Elder Wang. We have had a need for new investigators, and so we hit the malls, going to three different ones just yesterday. We talked with a lot of people about what was important to them. Some interesting things that I have noticed is that a lot of people don't know what is most important to them. I wonder sometimes if we don't really know what is important to us, we won't really be as receptive to the truth when we here it. The Gospel is a message of good news, and Heavenly Father has promised us that if we learn about the gospel, live it, and believe in it (have faith) then all of our deepest desires will be accomplished.

This week was a bit A-typical however due to transfers. I said goodbye to my Singaporean companion Elder Tan, and then welcomed in my new companion Elder Wang. Elder Wang is from Australia, and although he has been on his mission for 10 months, he has only served in 2 areas (this is his third). Surprisingly enough, of the two areas that he has served in, I have also served in those areas. Elder Wang is Chinese - both his parents are from Shang Hai (China) but he grew up in Australia, and his native language is English. I would say our Chinese is about on the same level. He seems great and I really appreciate his energy and focus. I think that we will get along well this transfer.

I would like to testify that I know that the Lord is aware of the small things in our life. I had an experience where we were scheduling this week, and although I thought we should schedule a certain activity for a certain time, I felt that we should do it earlier. Later, I realized that how we planned it, after having listened to that feeling, allowed us to have a bit smoother of a day without an awkward time gap.

Recently, I have been reading in 1 Nephi, and I read about Nephi's exhortation to his brothers. In explaining the great importance of heeding to the Word of God, Nephi tells his brothers that they must be diligent in keeping all of the commandments of the Lord. Obedience brings blessings and understanding.

Sincerely,

Elder Allen

Count Your Many Blessings

Well, this week my subject line comes from what I feel has helped me with some of the the hard times in missionary work. Recognizing the blessings that come from Heavenly Father, and then remembering them. The times I haven't recorded them in my journal is the times I don't get to express my gratitude to Heavenly Father for them. When we record them, we are able to learn from them.

A few notable things happened this week, One is that we had a Halloween Party in our branch - and we decorated a room in the church, and then Elder Tan (and I did too a little bit) dressed up for the activity. We had a game, and Elder Tan scared a few of the kids that came in the other rooms that we hosted. After the activity we had some refreshments (dinner). ​​We had two members of our branch organize the activity. One was from here, a local (who served a mission in Temple Square) the other was a member of our branch who is from Ukraine (also a RM and here with her husband who is from Ukraine as well).

We got to go the the YMCA this last Monday as well. We played some games, and had fun. We played lots of games that seemed like they were for kids who were younger than us, such as blowing a balloon until it popped, and then stacking cups on top of each other, but it was still fun, and we had a good time.

I have a testimony that this work is true, and that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission, and to learn on my mission.