Chinese 'War Zone' (Chinese New Year)

 

Hey Everybody once again!

 

This week was a good one as they always seem to be out here in Malaysia! I'll just throw out the highlights and the noteworthy stuff here real quick! 

 

 

In reference to the title. Every night is a competition between two Chinese families to see who can light off the most fireworks and who can light the loudest bombs basically. And this happens on EVERY street. It is way funny. When we ride home on our bikes I feel like I'm riding through a war-zone. Way fun. 

 

 

Last P-day after emailing we headed to the Bowling Lanes they have here in Sibu. Yes. They have bowling here. Weird right? So we headed down for our activity and we had a good time. I was a little rusty and it took me just a little bit of time to get my game back. But, Elder Thompson's bowling game is back, Haha!

 

 

My comp and I had the opportunity of riding out to one of our members houses this week. This member is the farthest out member of them all. I mean, out in the middle of nowhere. So we hopped on our bikes and we started out. After over an hour and I don't even know how many miles, we finally got there. It was a brutal bike ride but fun at the same time. There is something about biking in the dead heat and in the middle of the Malaysian jungle that makes me happy. We had a great lesson and then we headed back. This was the best part. There is no light out there and I mean NO light. It is just you, your comp, your bike lights, and the starry sky above you. It is the sickest thing. I had to be careful of where I was biking, because I would just get caught biking with my head looking straight up into the sky. That is a memory that I will never forget.

 

  

I also got to be a Chinese Elder this week as I went on exchanges with them. I've got to admit. My Chinese is getting pretty good, Haha!  Most of the Chinese here know Malay anyways, but between Malay explanations, Chinese vocabulary, and English translations, we taught some great lessons. We also did some service on the spot for someone which never happens, but that was cool! 

 I have a culture update for all of you. It kinda blew my mind a little bit. We got invited to a members house to eat food and basically celebrate with them. Reason? It was the year mark for their daughter's death. I thought it odd to be celebrating that and inviting the entire branch. But that is the thing here:  The Iban tradition is to invite everyone over to eat and celebrate. And we ate....we ALWAYS eat! To bad it goes right through me....oops... Basically the point of this "party" is to finish a year of sadness and heartache. So it was cool to help and talk to a lot of less-actives that have been long time members and friends. Awesome.

 

 

 

To finish up, I mentioned a family going to the Manilla temple last week. They got back this week. I did not even have to ask them to know, that they changed and they loved it.  I could see the happiness on their faces and I could see the light in their eyes. Of course I still asked them about it. The way they explained experiences and pictures and everything, it was all just awesome. Another testament to FAMILIES and especially KELUARGA ABADI: Eternal Families. That is the reason we are out here. True joy comes from this source right here.

Love you all!

Elder Thompson

Draper, Utah Missionary Letters thru Jan30 -2016