ParkerLeeThompson

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!