Investigators, Settling In, and Good Food

Hello everyone, I have now been in Malaysia for 11 days and I wish that I could say that I knew what I was doing :). But the work has been really good and I have been learning a lot, especially how to talk to people. We also had some cool miracles this week where we picked up what seems to be a pretty solid investigator!

One thing that I have learned from my experience out here in Malaysia so far is that contacting is hard. The houses here are different than they are in Utah, and almost everyone has a gate, small courtyard, and then their main door. When we go house to house, we ring a doorbell and then shout through the gate to the people in the house, sometimes trying to yell over a barking dog haha. It is hot (see the pic where I am finally starting to get some sun :) and a lot of the people have already seen us before, so they often aren't too interested.

But the great thing is that there are different ways to contact, and we were walking around some shops on Wednesday when a young Chinese man waved us over. He is 21 and he is a young "Entrepreneur" for this new company that deals with stocks. It basically means that you invest, and then your stock splits when the market goes down so you still gain money... or something like that. I am not entirely sure how it works but basically he just sits outside a coffee shop all day and watches his stocks- because apparently it is working. When we met him the first time he got us both cokes through his phone. 

Although a lot of our time was spent talking to him about his company, and him trying to get us to join :) we were able to share message of the Restoration with him. He expressed that he had been seeing Christian missionaries before (different church) but that he was going to convert later because his parents didn't approve. He already knows a lot about Christianity in general (big blessing) and we were able to set up an appointment with him for the next day, along with two of his friends. The next day we were able to teach one of his friends the Restoration lesson (this time in Chinese) and our investigator also jumped in and explained some things to his friend based off what we had taught him the day before... pretty cool.

We were expecting him at church but he didn't show... I still have faith. Speaking of church though, our branch president asked us to speak on Sunday and it went pretty well. I talked on how modern prophets can help us to strengthen our faith in the atonement of Christ. It went well and I was able to fill up 20 minutes of time with maybe an hour of preparation: not something I would have been able to do previously.

I want to bear my testimony that I know that living prophets are important. In my talk I brought up two ideas about how living prophets can help us - 1. they can clarify doctrine and 2. help us to apply it to our lives. I also know that the prophets remind us of things we need to be reminded of, and through modern revelation we know more clearly God's will as contained in the scriptures.

The Atonement is infinite and can help us to forgive, remove sin and negative feelings, as well as make us better. This is something that I am discovering more and more, as I realize more and more often how much I need the Savior. Wherever you are in conversion, know that conversion is a process and be patient with yourself. I know that through the truths of the restored gospel we can feel peace in this life, and know how to gain salvation in the life to come.

Sincerely

Elder Allen 

PS I had some wan tan mee this week - super good. Also routi suse (Indian food) and pao (Chinese) is super good (and I have no idea how to spell any of them). The picture is of wan tan mee.

Mary's note: The second picture is of Royal City Klang Mosque and was built on the request of the residents of Bandar Klang, mostly business owners of Pasar Jawa. Hence, the mosque is better known as Masjid Pasar Jawa (Pasar Jawa Mosque). Though it looks old, it was built in 2009.  It is a major landmark of the city.

Singapore, Malaysia, and the Rest

Well hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well and are happy. I am writing you this email from inside a small internet cafe in Malaysia, about a 30 minute train ride from my area: Klang. So far things have been good, there is definitely an adjustment to be had but I am doing well. :)

I figure I'll start out at the beginning. Leaving the MTC meant leaving a lot of good friends who I have gotten to know and have enjoyed spending time with. So... you will see a couple pictures with me and some others on our last temple walk. In fact, I had a lot of "lasts" this last week and a half. Last time at the temple for two years, last time in all the buildings at the MTC, last MTC lunch (very sad occasion :).

But all good things must come to an end. We rode the train to the airport and then called home and got food before we flew to LA - which is a massive airport. After LA we got on a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong. Because we got on atmidnight and we traveled west, we traveled with the sun and so had complete darkness outside the whole plane ride. When we landed in Hong Kong I could see the humidity on the windows, and figured that this would be the last time I was dry for two years. From Hong Kong we landed in Singapore and met the mission president and his wife, the AP's, and we had lunch.

After eating at the Airport, the President and his Assistants led us up to a car and gave us all a Book of Mormon and pass along cards. It was our job from the train ride from the airport to the chapel/mission headquarters to hand them out. I went with an AP and we got talking to a Chinese man. The AP was an English missionary so I got to explain about what the Book of Mormon was, and bear my testimony in Chinese to the man, and then give him the book. It was really cool and I felt the spirit. Then the AP and the man talked and they exchanged phone numbers.

We stayed in Singapore for a night at the mission home (an old Chinese polygamists home - fun fact) and then went to the chapel the next morning for new companions and mission assignments. I didn't realize that we would only be able to take 66 pounds of stuff to our area and then have to leave the rest in Singapore so I had a good time cramming and selectively choosing what I wanted to bring.

I was assigned to be Elder Rogers' companion and serve in Klang. So we picked up our stuff and took a flight over to Kuala Lumpur. We eventually arrived in Klang after many long train rides. I included pictures from our apartment - both the view and what is inside. Our apartment is definitely one of the nicer buildings around. It is interesting that in Malaysia, big buildings dot the land, and our apartment is one of those. We are on the 9th of around 25 floors. It is a cool view and the apartment is actually pretty nice, with air conditioning to save us at night and allow us to sleep.

It is hard to be a missionary. Elder Rogers and I are both new to the area, and that is why we had to have different Elders take us to our building. Elder Rogers has been out about 6 months and he has been out the longest out of anyone in our district. We got to our area with no investigators or knowledge of the area. White Washed. This is the term they use when they send two new elders to an area. We have spent some time cycling around and trying to understand where we are. Because we were new, my first meal in Malaysia was very authentic: McDonalds. Don't worry though I had some bek ku teh yesterday...I honestly have no idea what was in it. There was some meat... and other things...they all seemed pretty fatty and slimy and they didn't honestly taste very good. No worries though because I am sure that this is just conditioning: I'll grow to like it.

We are the first elders in this area to be Mandarin Speakers: and I'm not surprised. I have spoke almost exclusively in English since I have gotten here - but I still have trouble understanding the language. There are heavy accents and the English used is often in a weird order. There are also plenty of other languages that are frequently used: Tamil and Malay are dominant.

Anyway that is a lot, sorry if I bored you. My Chinese is starting to suffer because I am not speaking it. But the Church is true. This is something that I believe with all my heart and I am able to witness the fruits of this through small experiences that I have. Thoughts and impressions that bring comfort and clarity have been a huge blessing while I have been out here. Part of the struggle is just the adjustment: going to church with 20 people and preparing for it by sweeping up cockroaches, trying to spread a message that most people don't want to hear, and learning how to communicate and act in a new culture.

I am not even close to feeling comfortable but I have a lot of hope that I can become comfortable. Elder M Russel Ballard spoke to us the day before we left the MTC (4 apostles in 9 weeks!) and he said what he wished he had figured out sooner was that he was just there to give his time to the Lord. It is my prayer that I can do that. I know that we can all become better, but we need to be patient and not get discouraged. We also can't give up.

The work is good in Malaysia. The Church is true: no doubt about it.

Sincerely

Elder Allen

Note from Mary:  According to a travel website, Klang is famous for its seafood and "Bak Kut Teh" restaurants.

Bak Kut Teh (肉骨茶)

The dish that started it all: bak kut teh at the Old Stall

Klang is the original home of Bak Kut Teh (literally "pork rib tea"). You would not be forgiven for mistaking this with Singapore's version of peppery, clear broth Bak Kut Teh. This Klang-style Bak Kut Teh contains pork ribs that are cooked in a strong, thick herbal stock, served with tea on the side. Understanding the anatomy of a pig is crucial in picking the right type of meat of your liking.

Traveling to Singapore - by Mary

Since Nathan got to Singapore on his usual letter-writing day, I'll give this week's update.  I expect we won't get an email from him (except the short one I got in the middle of last night that he is there safe) until Monday. 

He left the MTC two days ago.  A neighbor of one of his flying companions saw them at the SLC airport, texted us their picture (the first one below) and fed them Cafe Rio as their last meal in the US for 2 years.  So nice!

To wrap up his MTC experience, he estimates he's run between 3000-4000 laps around the .10 mile indoor track and is the self-proclaimed MTC track king. He thinks he was part of one of the biggest surges into and out of the MTC.  At choir at least three times they said this was the largest choir they've ever had.  He was there 9 weeks and heard 4 general authorities speak.

Since his name starts with an A, he was the travel leader for the 10 missionaries in their group which comprised of his district of 8 Chinese speakers, 3 Malay speakers and a lone sister.  He said it was weird to ride the train through Lehi.  He's excited to get to Singapore but doesn't feel ready with the language.  He said they were advised to be "perky" and even bring a fresh tie to change into when they met their mission president.  I guess you'd need that advice after traveling so long and so far.  I don't know about the perky part but he does have a different tie on in the pictures at the Singapore airport.  All in all, it took 3 planes, 4 airports and 31 hours to get there.  Singapore is 14 hours ahead so I hope he's catching some good z's right now in his first night there.

It was great to talk to Nathan from Salt Lake and LA.  We each got to talk to him.  Jason's first words to Nathan summed up how we all feel: "I really miss you but I'm actually glad you’re on a mission 'cause I know it’s a good thing to do.”

Thank you all for being interested in and supportive of Nathan.  You can write him anytime at nathan.allen@myldsmail.net and I'll keep the emails coming until you tell me to stop.  I also keep his letters on this blog.

Salt Lake City Airport - Monday, September 12

Nathan is in the small picture on the bottom right.

Singapore Airport

Nathan with President and Sister Simmons, Singapore Airport - September 14

The Final Hoorah

Well, I have been at the MTC for 8 weeks as of today. It is crazy to think of all of the "lasts" that are coming up and have passed. Today is my last MTC Pday. I went to the temple for the last time in probably two years. I can now count how many days I have left in the MTC with one hand (when I first came in it would have taken 13 hands).

This week we also said goodbye to one of the members of our Branch Presidency because he left and wouldn't come back before we left. As of this moment in fact, he is in Singapore. His name is Brother Seow and he is the only one in the branch presidency who knows any Mandarin. 

Other news of the week, I can't remember if I mentioned this last time but we got a new district last week (they are going to Hong Kong so we call them "Canto's") and half of them are from the UK. I also got to get a pic with Elder Jaden Howell (he still has 7 weeks).

This may be my last time to tell you running news so it is ok to be a little sad. I matched my lap pr on Tuesday (see my watch pictures - I had to press the lap button again so that you would know that I did in fact get 80 laps :)) This one was a little faster but I had to stop to take a two minute break in the middle so I don't know if it counts.

I got to have some fun doing what missionaries have to do every once and a while and that is fix a tie. As you can see it started out in bad shape but I'm happy to report that it is all fixed.

Sorry this is kind of a boring email, I will make sure next weeks is more exciting! I leave this Monday and I am even starting to pack today!

Elder D Todd Christofferson spoke at our devotional last night. He talked about a phrase that I have heard frequently throughout my stay at the MTC. The duty of a missionary is to "preach repentance and baptize converts." Repentance truly leads to all other parts of the doctrine of Christ, and its crowning event is baptism - where we make a commitment not only to stop sinning, but to start obeying. Repentance is a turning. Another part of the devotional that I really like was this sentence (I believe it was a quote): "It is better to be trusted than it is to be loved." God's love is unconditional, but His trust is not. Strive to be worthy of the trust of your friends, family, bishop, mission president, and everyone.

I have a testimony of this gospel. If you have questions regarding the truthfulness of this message, know that understanding comes over time. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us. Christ atoned for our sins and it is through his mercies that we can receive the enabling power of grace through the atonement.