Malaysian Macaroni, with 'Protein!' 

 

Hey Friends and Family !

I'll start with last week because I did not get the chance to email a whole lot last week! Last week we had a miracle contact. We started teaching the Word of Wisdom right off the bat telling these three guys they needed to stop smoking and drinking...and they loved it! Normally you'd just about get punched if you started out like that but it worked! They want us to help them stop and become healthier!

We had a chance to go way out into the jungle to teach people who had never really even heard of Jesus Christ or his gospel. We had to travel by river and fishing boats which was way cool. We have what you call "Kampungs" all along the river that just have people living off the land. They live in "Long Houses," which basically means one huge house with like 50+ rooms in it, that all have separate families. We taught a couple long houses and we found ourselves teaching upwards to 30 people at one time! It was crazy fun. These people rarely have seen 'white' people, if any at all. They have little to no knowledge of any type of gospel. They are an awesome people though. They know how to live of the land in such moderate ways and of course their language, Iban, is so sick. That was an adventure and it should continue to be one as we teach them further! 

 

Here's a couple quick things from this week that don't need to much explanation but are notable!

I was talking to our member about her history before the gospel. They were planning a divorce, her husband and her, and they were going to split. The family was gong under but then the missionaries came. She sees the difference in her kids and in her home now. This gospel changes lives.

One of the days my companion E Duckworth had his bike locked up in a store before we could grab it, but the work goes on as usual!  I 'pumped' my comp to the rest of our appointments the rest of the night, which consists of me biking while E Duckworth sits on my handlebars. Yes, I am a pro already. In this mission your bike is your lifeline so you learn to do EVERYTHING on your bike no matter what it is.

I had the opportunity to be in a tri-companionship this week because of exchanges. Which means that I went to the other area. What did we do? We went mountain biking!  Basically, haha. We went and explored deep into the jungle with our bikes to find some choice people. It was way fun.

My branch President is super good a Ping-Pong apparently?!? He beat me and all the other Elders.....So that's new....

Our senior couple headed home yesterday, the Bodells. They have been like family to me while I have been here and it was way sad to see them go. I will miss them!  Side note: Today is February 28-29th which means last year on this day I received my call to go on this crazy adventure of a mission! Crazy!

To finish up, and to explain the title this week....we were eating dinner at our RC's house and she brought out macaroni. This isn't like Mac n' Cheese, this is Iban Macaroni. So slightly sweetened in sugary water, and mildly hot...somewhat. Anyways I looked into it and I thought I saw pepper...but nope...ants! Not intentionally, but that is just what happens here in Malaysia....Normally this would be disgusting in any other time of my life, but now? All I thought was "Well, more protein!" It was delicious! 

That's all for this week, the adventures keep coming and I am loving it here! Love you all!

Elder Thompson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Draper, Utah Missionary Letters thru Feb28 -2016 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Short & Sweet from Sarawak Jungle 

 

This week is going to be a short one and this will probably catch you all while you are waking up for school/work and what not but thought I'd get something out to you at least. We are emailing late...early for you...because we have been out in the middle of the Sarawak Jungle all day sharing the Gospel to people who really don't know anything about Christianity.... It was CRAZY.  Some crazy experiences have led to some long days which leads to less time to email. So, that being said, those experiences will have to wait until the next email when I have time to write them!

For this week, here is the REAL simple run down.

We headed out to a long house this week to help with some baptismal interviews. Our transport? A members old car that rattled the whole way and the windows couldn't roll up. So incomes the storm....yeah we were wet.

Contacting random people is hard enough. We make it harder and ask bold questions like, "Would you like to stop smoking and drinking?" Using that as the opening greeting, as they are smoking and drunk right in front of us, and they accept?!?  But, more info on that next week...

That would be it for now! No time, working hard, loving every minute! Love you guys!

Elder Thompson 

We went bowling again because Elders are competitive and want to win. The scores were based on companionship's and I will just say that Elder Duckworth and I are sick bowlers. We took it all! (Thanks for the bowling skills Mom)

 

 

 

Draper, Utah Missionary Letters thru Feb20 -2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's All About Love

Yes I know it's a cheesy title but it's Valentines Day so what the heck?

Not too much happened this week but here comes what did happen:

We had transfers and I am staying in Sibu but my companion Elder Ajek left. Sad to see him go but the mission goes on! My new companion is Elder Duckworth. He is from America, from Utah, he is white, and we are both trying to become as Iban as possible here so we can make things happen. This transfers should be a hard-working one and a way fun one also! Exciting stuff!

Before the transfer day hit we decided to do an "Elders BBQ". Which consisted of us Elders going out and buying all the meat our budgets could afford and slapping it on our grill to cook. We are not talking about a real BBQ grill here. We're talking about a halfway cut barrel that we got off the members and some chicken wire place on top. Oh yes, and a wood stoked fire to cook the meat with some genuine Malaysian marinades. Yes, it was "sedap". (Delicious) 

 

Further in the week we went to visit one of our investigators. We were talking about something, I am not quite sure what it was but somehow we got one the topic of "only Sunday Christians". They starting going off about the problem in the world and it was hilarious. Basically how they explained it was: They enter into the chapel and they worship as a little angel. They are so nice and friendly. But the second they leave the chapel doors, horns grow out of the top of their head and they grow nasty teeth and they become something different! Haha it was so funny watching them act it out and talk about it! So moral of the story for those of you back home. Don't grow horns and teeth when you walk out of the church , haha. 

We had the opportunity to go and work out a a gym that some of our investigators go to often. We wanted to bond more with them and they wanted us to show them how to work out better. These are teenage boys so we had a fun time. Pictures are to come.... So yeah we had a good time getting to know them and also getting to work out!

Sunday was interesting. We showed up for our meetings and guess what? None of our Presidency showed up! Yeah! Sweet! ....... Usually at least one of them shows up to conduct and preside but nope, not today. So I got the fun privilege of "presiding" and "conducting" the entire meeting in a 10 minutes notice....it was awesome..... 

Other than all that, everything keeps moving forward as far a missionary work! Becoming Iban is a necessity, and becoming a disciple is above all. Love you all!

Elder Thompson 

Draper, Utah Missionary Letters thru Feb13 -2016

 

Chinese New Year Continues! 

Hello Everyone!

I'll just get right into it because this week was full of stuff and I want to get it out before time runs short!

 

Starting with last P-day, we went on our "Temple Trip".....to Chinese Temples.....but still way cool! There are a lot around here in Sibu but we picked a couple and went to those! One is shaped and painted like a tiger and the other is pretty normal.  It is so cool to see the history and the culture build into each one.

One of the days we were out riding around and we stopped by our members house to see how she and her family were doing. We sat down to talk and then her son challenged me to a badminton game. I don't play badminton, but I'll take a challenge because they love to play it here. So this little boy was pretty much schooling me and everyone in the neighborhood decided to come out and watch the huge white person get whooped by this little Malaysian. I got the hang of it eventually but it was just way funny to play!

 

This week we had the opportunity to go to one of our member's kampung. Meaning "home village" or place of origin. So we hopped on a small boat and headed out there. Rode along the river and then we pulled off the side of the river at a little grouping of houses and hopped of the boat. When I say hopped, I mean I literally jumped off the boat onto the dock. Mode of transportation here....awesome. The second I set foot on the bank, you might have well assumed I was the only white man to have ever stepped onto that kampung. I very well could have been, let alone missionary. All you could see were really shy Iban faces poking out of doors and windows reacting to me haha. A lot of "orang putih" and "amat tinggi" which is "white person" and "he's really tall!" haha. Once I got into the house things calmed down but I still got the stares. We taught our huge lesson with the leaders of the kampung. They have something called a "tuai rumah" which is the house leader. He was the most interested and asked for us to come back as well as his approval of our message. That was a huge deal to get his approval and we are excited for the future there. After the lesson we were given a tour of the whole place. It was awesome. These guys were still starting up there car motors to get the electricity flowing as well as the water going. They truly live off the land and it just felt like home to me. It was hard to leave so quickly but we had to jump....literally jump, onto the next boat coming home. It was a long express boat which is pretty cool because you can go outside and hang out while it drives. Or at least that is what I do...oops! Visiting the kampung was soo much fun.

 

 

This week I also got the chance to do exchanges with our district leader. Aside from all our regular work, I got the opportunity to show him what I think is a gold mine for Chinese people to teach. We crossed the river and headed into the jungle adventuring to find people. We ended up way deep in the jungle riding our bikes through skinny, muddy trails and what not. We were not complaining, especially me. That was way fun to get way out there and explore a lot!

Yesterday we had a Sunday BBQ up in a place in the other Elders areas. We rode our bikes up there and the bike ride was awesome as usual. When we got there it was a huge potluck BBQ and it was so good. We hung out up there before heading home for Chinese New Year. 

 

 

That brings me right to my final highlight. CHINESE NEW YEAR. Otherwise known as Chinese War Zone because that's what it is honestly. Starting after dinner the whole city starting going nuts. Fireworks everywhere and straight bombs blowing up all around us. Sadly a storm rolled over and everything stopped. It got pretty late and it was nearing 12 at night when everything was supposed to go off. The storm closed up for 20 minutes, and I have never seen the sky light up and heard so much noise in my entire life. Everyone was lighting everything off they had before the next storm cloud came over. It was one of the coolest sights that I have ever seen. Aside from not being able to hear anyone unless you were standing a foot away and yelling at the top of your lungs, the sight was sweet. Chinese New Year in Sibu is awesome, and it is supposed to continue all week long here. Yeah!

 

Anyways a lot of cool stuff this week, but that the wrap up! Love you all!

Elder Thompson 

 

 

Draper, Utah Missionary Letters thru Feb6 -2016