Yang Terakhir
(The Last)
From: Parker Thompson [ pthompson@myldsmail.net ]
Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2017 7:03 PM
Subject: Yang Terakhir
Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2017 7:03 PM
Subject: Yang Terakhir
This week was absolutely hectic but filled with so many
blessings and miracles. I could not think of a more perfect last week for my
mission. Here is my best summaries of what happened in a short amount of time!
We started it off with an awesome P-day in which we went on
a shopping spree with our members and then the Elders bought them all this
American BBQ stuff and cooked it at their house that night. It was way good and
I think we made it taste like real American cheeseburgers despite lack of
actual real food to buy! The funniest thing was watching their Dad and a couple
older men eating the burgers like a typical Iban. They don't know how to do it.
We showed them, but years of crushing up food, grouping in with 4 fingers, and
plopping in in their mouth took over. I was laughing way hard. They thought it
tasted good though! Win.
This week was full of last appointments with members and
lots of food. So grateful for these people. One of the highlight dinners was on
exchanges with Elder Mickelson, in which we headed out to Bro. Gaadong and Sis
Norlia's kampung. If I haven't said enough about this family let this be the
cherry on top. These guys are family to me. I would do anything for them. Sis.
Norlia is "Mak" to me. That is, Mom here. One of the many
"Mom's" that have taken care of me.
Malaysia is so beautiful. Sorry for the random switch of topic with no transition but it just is. It will be so hard to leave this paradise. This place is literally paradise. It was a long time ago that the smells and the heat and the 3rd worldliness faded to the background of my mind. I will miss the beauty here.
Also Weljen got baptized! I couldn't think of a better last,
farewell gift anyone gave me than God when we brought Weljen to the waters on
Saturday. I don't know if I've said much about Weljen, but be assured that he
is awesome and I love him. He is 17 and was a referral from one of our youth
about 8 months or so ago. It has been a fight and a battle getting him to this
point but I am so grateful for the time he took. He is converted. It took a team
though, God included. One of our youth baptized him and that was exciting and
fun for him too! It was a great night topped off with a farewell dinner party
the members organized for me.
Sunday was bittersweet. I was sitting in sacrament and I
finally had the thought, "This was a week of lasts." I finally had
that thought! I was just thinking of all the things I won't get to do here in
Sarawak in the coming weeks. That thought quickly changed to a grateful
attitude for ALL of the unbelievable experiences and moments that I have had
over the last 2 years. I am just barely scraping the bottom bits of my feelings
as I am expressing this. There are no words to describe it. It just cannot be
typed on an email, or even said in person. It can't even be shown through
plethora of videos and pictures. I have no words. These people, and this land.
I love it It was an amazing journey to find a love for a random people on a
couple islands that needed the gospel, and in finding that, finding also a love
for my God. I tears me apart to leave these people and this culture in which I
have become apart of. But I am strengthened and I am confident, seeing as I
have become so close to me Heavenly Father. It is written that if everything
where to be written about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, it is
supposed that not even the book of the earth could contain it. I feel the same
with my mission. And that is just my mission! I can't even begin to list and
describe everything that I have learned out here. It is truly unbelievable. It
doesn't feel like I am leaving, and yet I have to.
Jesus Christ lives. He lives for you and for me. His
Atonement is real. It is real to cleanse. It is real to build, uplift, inspire,
motivate, strengthen, and renew. The Book of Mormon testifies of it. God lives
and he loves every single one of us. This church that he has given us is true.
It is true. If we will just give our lives over to him he will make us into
more than we or anyone else thought possible. This work will go on forever, changing
lives of boys like me, and individuals into the eternities. The change that is
experienced, and the power that comes from Him, nothing can compare. I cannot
express the slightest of the joy that I feel. Let this suffice for now, this
work is not over, in my life and this world. All beginnings and no endings. I
love you all and thank all of you for the support and encouragement throughout
these two years. You will never know that impact you have all made. See you all
soon!!!
Elder Thompson
(Sorry no pics for this week. Like, I have a lot, but can
download them right now because I have to get on a flight to Singapore in 2
hours!) Show them to you when I get home!
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Note from Parker's Dad: Due to his note of no pictures above, this picture is possibly my favorite pic I've seen as I've blogged and group emailed on Parker's (and Mom's) behalf for 2 years. When Parker left, the best advice I felt I could offer to him was to completely open his heart the people and culture, and to love them and serve them before doing anything else he's trained to do. To Let them change YOU and you'll probably change them as you hope. When I saw this on the Social Media groups per his Singapore Malaysia Mission, it spoke everything, for me. The Elder, listening to the Elders of Malaysia. It will be good to see you Wednesday, Parker, and to hear it all. We have missed you!
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