Although my street contacting skills have much room for improvement, contacting is turning into an activity that I rather enjoy doing. It is exhilarating to feel the spirit work through you as you testify to someone about the restored gospel. People in general are just fun to talk to too. Sometimes they will say funny things, have different ways of thinking, or be rude to you in such an awkward way for both you and them that you can just smile and keep looking for someone else to talk to. The best part of contacting, however, is when you are trying to understand how you can help this person by talking to them about the restored gospel, and an approach pops into your mind. When you say it, you feel how well it comes out and the power that it has to testify of the truth of Christ.
Another highlight of the week comes from our zone meeting that we had on Friday night. It was our Christmas conference. We learned about three kinds of gifts: gifts we give to each other, gifts Christ gives to us, and gifts we give to Christ. I am really grateful for the opportunity that I have to tell people about the gifts that Christ is extending to them!
We also had a white-elephant gift exchange and I brought a small bag of candy that I haven't had since the US. In return I got a bar of soap...so I didn't really get a great return on my gift but that is ok :). We had cake after so it was all made better.
One of the cool experiences that we had this week actually came just yesterday. There is a member in our ward who has recently been coming out of inactivity. He has been a faithful member in the past, and it was the passing away of Elder Chan (the area seventy who lived in our branch) that really woke him up and got him to start coming again. His family is a really solid portion of the branch, and we are so happy to see him joining them again. We had dinner with them last night (roti cani - super good - I will miss good curry when I go back to the US). We shared the Light the world message that the church has put out for Christmas. We bore our testimonies on the power that service has to help others, and also how important it is for us to follow the example of the Savior. The coming-back member really appreciated the message, and I am so grateful for the resources that the church provides and also for the ability that service for others has to soften peoples hearts.
Testimonies come as we live the gospel. As we deliberately choose to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, and as we consciously recognize the blessings that will come, we will continue to grow in knowledge about and of the savior. I know that the Church is true.
sincerely:
Elder Allen
Pics: double parking (parking behind someones car) is such a big thing in Malaysia that they prepare signs to put in their windshields).
Elder Rogers posing with the first root beer I have had since being in the US.
I may have showed this before, elevators don't have a fourth floor because in chinese, the word "four" and "death" sound really similar.
Food a member brought for us and made us promise that we would send pictures of it home so that our moms know we get chinese comfort food.
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