I Love the Iban Culture!

Heelllooo friends and family!  It has come down to another week and here we go with another email! This week had all sorts of emotions and experiences. (What?!? Parker had emotions this week....wait...Parker had emotions?!?)  So, yeah, here are some highlights and note-worthy things going down in Sibu, Malaysia.

We had transfers this week, which was really weird because I thought 6 weeks would never come. But the unexpected happened, my trainer and my "father" as they joke here, left me! Elder Yang got transferred and will not finish my training! Dang it! I loved that guy so much but he had more important things to do before he heads home. So, I waited anxiously to see who my new companion will be, an hour later I figure out the I will be staying in Sibu, and my new companion is Elder Patrick! This kid is a native, he has been out on his mission one more transfer than I have so it's nuts. He is a blast, loves to joke around and he is just a funny guy haha. So, what this means, is that the rest of this transfer will be done in Malay....holy freak. Yeah!

Elder Yang leaving was bittersweet. It went down weird but it happened. My bike, Bessy, Hernandez 2.0, The Green Hornet, gave out at a red light, the tire went flat. So we did what we do here best, ghost ride. You ride side by side holding the broken bike and riding hopefully a better bike that is functional. So I took Elder Yang's bike and ghost rid Bessy to the church, I have gotten really good at this actually given all my bike problems....it's an art. After Elder Yang said good bye at the church to everyone, which was way sad, we headed out to go home, on foot. It was way good because wwe got to talk and enjoy each other's company for longer and walk the streets of Sibu. I will miss that kid.

Elder Patrick came in, and so, as I mentioned, everything is in Malay. It is jump starting my language. It is crazy how much I have learned in a week already. He is a native Iban, as you may know, I love the Iban culture. So he knows Iban as well, it is like their tribal language. Anyways Iban is the best way to communicate with Iban's because they understand in better, so here comes the Iban language studies! Elder Patrick is such a fun time, we laugh a lot, and we work hard.

  

This week we got to see conference, it was a week delayed because they had to get the translations and all that sent over. They gave us an English one too...Thank you!! I was so spiritually enlightened. I have never had such a desire to learn and to gain knowledge, this conference was awesome, I can't say favorites but I may make notes of them throughout my next emails...awesome. 

Today was P-day, we took the zone to Kampung. It means home village where you originated. We went to Kapit. It's the biggest one in East Malaysia, it was way fun, saw some cool sites, did some cool stuff, living the Iban life!

 

Get a feel for these Boats in Video Below ::

 

Well, there goes another week in Sibu, back to work! 

Elder Thompson
PThompson@MyLDSMail.net



MidWeek Post Note:  received message from the Senior couple missionaries, The Bodell's who are in Sibu with the missionaries there:

""Dear Brother and Sister Thompson, Sister Bodell and I wanted to share with you what an amazing young man you have for a son. Elder Thompson is just that, an amazing young man! We went to an FHE with him and his companion last night. He taught the whole lesson by himself in Malay. His companion, Elder Patrick, shared some thoughts in Iban. Elder Thompson's language skills are awesome. He is doing so well. Besides that, his attitude is excellent. His heart is huge. He loves the people. He loves being a missionary. He's courteous and caring. He is a jack of all trades. He is obedient to the mission rules. He has a level head (which is very unique in someone his age). Sister Bodell and I love him and enjoy being around him. Thank you for sharing him with the Lord and the people of Sibu (presently) and with the rest of the mission. He will touch the hearts of many, many people.""

2015 Draper, Utah Missionary Letters thru Oct10-2015