Hello Fam,

Not much has changed since wednesday....... haha.  The reason I was so fidgety on Skype was because I felt uber sick, and the rest of the day I was feeling it!  It was funny, because I didn't want to eat anything, and then the Ho sisters took us out to dinner and, as usual, shoved food down our throats.  They are so sweet.  They are two single sisters that have been members for almost 30 years.  In fact, the  Ho Sue Yan was the first Sister missionary from malaysia.  She served in the Singapore mission.  They keep the church in KL moving.  And they are so concerned about the welfare of the missionaries, and are always wanting to give us food.  They even bring candy to church to give to us.... which is kind of embarrassing, but also very needed because by the time we get to church and go through church, we're usually starving.  The saying, "What would Jesus do?" and "What would the Ho Sisters do?"  are almost the exact same questions.  I think that it is a pretty good goal to be able to put your name in that statement.  They helped us teach our progressing investigator on Christmas day, and were awesome because they speak English, Mandarin, and Hokkien.  

Speaking of that Investigator.  His name is Beh, and he continually impresses me.  He is in his twenties, buddhist, and works as an electrician.  We have been teaching him for sometime, and he is still very interested.  Usually the Chinese people here don't want anything to do with us, but he is completely the opposite.  After he learns a lesson, he wants to come with us to our other investigators to help teach them!  He speaks Malay, so he can help with the lessons.  We FINALLY got him to introduce us to his family on Saturday.  It was the greatest/worst experience of the mission I think.  We met his mom and sisters, and they took us to Pizza Hut and Beh translated what we said to them in Hokkien.  Elder Trotter and I were amazed that they were listening, because for Chinese people, this NEVER happens in this mission.  His mom agreed to a return appointment with another branch member that speaks hokkien.  We were so excited.  I'm not going to write how we met the Dad, but it was the most awkward/uncomfortable/mostpainful/longest car ride of my life.  Anyways, I am so excited for this family.  The church could use them so much!  I think, more importantly, they could really use the gospel in their lives.  You can feel it in the way they asked questions, and how they responded to our questions.  I can tell this is going to be good.  

Vicki, I forget to tell you, but tell Lauren HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I cannot believe she is 15 (right?)  haha.  I remember you changing her nasty diapers in the Winnie the Pooh bedroom at your old house :-)

And thank you for the Christmas present.  I will probably use it to buy expensive sweets, because that's probably what I would have wanted from you if I was at home! haha.  And that is too funny about your concert experience... not your average concert experience i bet!

I'm glad you guys got to meet the Trotters.  Elder Trotter is pretty funny.  I have heard all of those stories you've mentioned, and just about everything else about him too.  I can't believe how fast he can talk, and he always has something to say.  always.  It is kind of funny, because when I was with Matheson, I feel like I talked the whole time, and now I feel like I do a lot of listening.  He is really funny though, and sings to me while I'm showering... whether I want him to or not.  haha.  I think Eric would get a hoot out of his facial expressions.  

I've been writing Whit, and it seems like he is doing super well.  I guess they had an unheard of number of people at church this past week!  I'm glad he is doing well.  I guess he is having some companion issues, but oh well.  THe way Whit described it in the email was super funny.  Does he have a blog that you check?  

Oh, yeah, I didn't skype you guys for that long because we're only supposed to for an hour!  Elder Trotter went for over 3 hours with various people haha!  I sat their listening to mo tab.  oh well.  

It was nice seeing the whole fam over there.  Tell Grandma and Grandpa thankyou for the Christmas gift.  

Oh before I forget, our new address: 

No. 9B-1 D'Haven Condominium

Lorong Tenggiri 1A, Off Jalan Mohd Yamin, 41100

Klang, Malaysia

Our new apartment is kind of driving me nuts.  The other day, one of the mosque had something at 4:30 in the morning that woke us up.  On all of their menaras (towers) they have loud speakers, so it seems like there is always someone singing/chanting/talking.  This area is very muslim.  We went to some flats to go contacting, and out of the entire building and found 2 Christian families.  It was a huge building -____-  THey are very nice people though.  Sometimes they give us free food on the road.  We were on the bus the other day, and these kids were making fun of us because they thought we couldn't understand bahasa.  Finally, I couldn't take it any longer, so I stood up and told him "Not only do I understand you, but can you please close your mouth?"  He went DEAD silent, but the whole rest of the bus started laughing.  It was a pretty funny experience.  ALso, we were at a mall eating lunch, next to a little stand, and I could hear these girls working at the shop talking about us as if we were students.  I kind of turned around and said, "we're not students, we're volunteers for our church."  Same reaction.  They were actually embarrassed because they were talking about my eyes too... -____- and then they wanted pictures.   #whitepeopleinasiaproblems.

Nothing too exciting has happened other than that.  We'll keep you all updated.

Bai

Elder RObinson

Greetings from Kuala Lumpur

Hello Family,

It has been the most hectic week ever.  I am so tired right now, I have no idea what to even write to you.  hmmmm

Before I forget, we want to Skype next Wednesday at 10:00AM Kuala Lumpur Time.  This translates to your Christmas Day evening, although it will be the morning of the 26th for us.  We will have one hour to skype.  my name is david.aj.robinson on skype.  The password is the same as my other ones... so check and make sure we are skype friends.

Since last time, I have left Sarawak.  It was kind of a sad goodbye trying to see everyone off, and trying to pack again.  I cannot stand packing.  After Elder Hodder dropped me off at the Airport in Miri, that was the first time that I haven't been with a companion since I entered the MTC.  I had a very nice flight into KLIA.  THe only problem was that my new companion told me he would be waiting for me at the airport.  After almost an hour of waiting, I decided to go use some of my change and call Elder Matheson back in Miri.  I got a hold of him, and he told me that right as I boarded the flight, my new companion called telling me to take the Train downtown.... so it was a good thinhg I called.  THe airport is about 35 minutes outside of Kuala Lumpur Sentral, so I had a decent ride ahead of me.  As I was sitting, some artsy guy comes and sits nexts to me and asks. "how much longer do you have?"  He knew about our church, and actually had a friend who went on a mission in New Zealand.  THis guy was from Norway, but grew up in Australia, and had spent his college days in Copenhagen.  He was a journalist for BBC WOrld News, and now travels the world taking pictures for BBC.  We talked a lot, and he thought the mission was a very cool idea (I had to explain it wasn't just a 2 year trip).  It was probably the first time I have talked to a white person that wasn't a missionary in a LONG time.  He took a picture of me, and went on his way.  

My Companion is Elder TRotter, and he is out of control!  I don't even know how else to describe him.  He is really funny, and sometimes a little too funny.  He is a big wrestler from spokane washington.  He was state champion wrestler, and got scholarship offers at all the ivy leagues and stanford, but chose to go to BYU.  He is into guitar and has recorded a couple songs.  Again, he is out of control.  Some of the things he says kill me.  It is kind of hard to explain.  hahaha.  For teh most part, he is very hard working, and very forward.  In fact, he talks so much that I have figured this transfer is going to be a good time for me to learn how to listen.  He is always talking or singing.  he reminds me a lot of Elder Mayo.  

Because our Area is so new, we don't even have our apartment yet.  We have been living in the other elders 500 Sq. foot apartment... with 4 people.  you literally open the door and bump into my little spot on the floor.  I haven't slept on a real bed for a week.  And I am still living out of my suitcase.  THankfully, I think we are moving in today!  We have been traveling an hour to Klang every day.  We spend so much time on transportation, it is a little crazy.  Our new apartment is supposed to be pretty nice though!  Oh by the way, I LOVE KL!!!!!!  It is SO COOL.  I absolutely love it.  All the elders here keep saying to me that they have never seen an elder so excited to be called to KL area.  I love it. The investigators that we have met usually work in the city, so they like to have us meet them there.  THe other day, we had an appointment in KL City Center, and the investigator spoke great english, owned a cold storage (popular Expat store) and gave us free drinks.  Afterwards, since it was friday, we went to Pasar Malam (night market) (EVery Jumaat , which is the Islamic day of worship, there is Pasar Malam... even in Miri) and we got some awesome food for really cheap.  I have seen the Petronas Towers (i figured Eric would ask if I had seen that yet), and they are very cool at night.  THe city in general is just very cool.  It is in a large valley surrounded by mountains (not very tall ones), but is still very green and rainy.  It is just soo cool.  We are close enough that we can take the KTM from Klang to KL.  

There is a train called the KTM, and the trax-like thing is called teh LRT.  

Klang is also awesome.  It has a really cool Little INdia, with ton of delicious smells and fancy little shops.  It is a lot poorer i think in Klang.  

We have been so busy with setting things up for our new Area, that we haven't done a lot of missionary work yet.  We didn't have a cell phone even, so we had to go set that up.  The Subang Jaya Branch, that we are joined on to, had a great Christmas party the other day, with TURKEY (which is suuuupper expensive over here), and even had a white santa claus!  It is completely different over here in West Malaysia.  Literally everything is different.  Our very first night here, a member took us to dinner that cost over 100RM and I had the best steamboat ever.  So good.  THe members here love the missionaries, we are very lucky.  Also, most of the missionaries here have never served in East, so they have NO IDEA that they are spoiled beyond reason getting this type of treatment.  THe branch put on the CHristmas party..... in east, that is OUR JOB!!  Very different.....  We also had a 'birthday part' for one of the subang jaya members and they invited us, and they are half indian and half filipino, so the food there was SO good.  I think  I can get used to the food here :)

If we weren't hectic enough as is, we had ZOne conference this week in Singapore!!!!!!  I always love going to Singapore.  We flew down from Kuala Lumpur on Monday morning, and had all day on monday to do whatever we wanted.  I got to see Elder Crum there.  We had so much fun.  Elder Crum and I went to the Lego Exhibit that is being featured at the Marina Bay Sands-- very cool.  It was awesome just catching up with him.  We went all over town.  We went to orchard, and they have the whole thing lit up with christmas lights.  It reminded me of Paris last year.  THere were street performers of all sorts all over the place, and lots of free and yummy street food.  It doesn't feel like Christmas in Malaysia.... but the moment you go to Singapore, you know it is Christmas time.  It is kind of cool, because there is a ton of secular Christmas stuff.... but there are also scriptures posted on the big malls, and the big hotels.  Lots of church christmas music playing in the airport, the city, the subway.  Very nice feel.  Sister Mains also put on a very nice Christmas Zone Conference for us.  She said that we have to be extra nice to our families when we call next week..... heheh.   We then went to Little India in Singapore and got awesome banana leaf and curry.  I also got a very tastey mango lhasi.  yum....

I only got one package in singapore from you guys.  The one with all the candy in it.  Nothing with the iron man shirt, or the electronic dictionary :(  are you sure it made its way to Singapore?

We then took a 5 hour bus ride from Singapore to KL last night, and ended up staying in the other elders apartment in downtown KL.  I have no more clean clothes, and no apartment to go to.  I AM SO TIRED.  we didn't even get back to KL until 3AM.  ugh.  Oh well.  that is why this email is more of just a list of things that happened.  

Oh, and there has been a lot of trouble with the missionaries lately.  We are not supposed to write anything in our emails, because the government may be screening them.  THere was an incident last night in Pinang, and at the border in Singapore last week.  Can't really say a lot about what happened, but it's got us all on our toes.  We may have emergency transfers.

k by

Hope you guys are having a fun Christmas time, bai

Elder RObinson

BIG NEWS

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Hello Family, Sorry this email has taken so long to get started writing.  This morning has been SOOOO hectic.  There is some pretty big news.  Well, as you know, transfers were coming up so all week we were worried about that.  Elder Matheson has been in Miri for 6 months, and was SURE that he was leaving.  So we have spent a lot of the past couple days doing stuff for him to get ready to go, as well as teach a music class, as well as some other baptisms for other missionaries, and other random activities.  It has been non stop.  WELL, this morning, we get a call from the Zone Leaders to tell me that I AM MOVING TO KUALA LUMPUR TOMORROW!  In fact, I right afterwards got a phone call from my new companion who told me the inside scoop of what is going on.  It turns out that we are actually going to a city about 1 hour away from KL called Klang.  It is a port city on the ocean.  There have never been missionaries there.  There isn't even a branch there.  We will be the first missionaries to open up this area.  I felt very grateful because my new companion said that President trusted me enough to open a completely new area so early on in my mission.  I am very excited.  My new companion, Elder Trotter, also told me that it is going to very very very difficult.  I guess there is a family that is living there that are strong members, that have been going an hour to KL every sunday.  We will go to church in the city until we can get a group started.  I am very excited.  Apparently Malay is heavily spoken in Klang, even though it is in Semananjung (West Malaysia).  Elder Bodhaine is moving to Singapore tomorrow too.  He is excited.  It is weird, because our trainers are going to be staying in Miri.  I have been frantically trying to pack and finish all the little house keeping things back at the house.  I guess it's an hour outside of KL, so we will go there a lot and get yummy food :-)  Oh, and I also quickly opened up all the presents in the advent calendar in case there was anything I wanted :) I am also very depressed about leaving.  I feel like I just barely came here!  It was sad, I went and visited one of my favorite investigators this morning, and told them I was moving, and took some pictures.  Sister Mundun was balling, and I felt really bad.  Her husband, Dangkan, is one of my favorite people, and I am so sad that I will not be here to see his baptism, if he makes it there (which I'm sure he will).  WHen you guys pick me up, I really want to visit all my old areas.  I told them I would come back!  I will also miss being in Borneo.  This past week, we had an activity where the members attempted to make cupcakes and give them to less active members.  Well, as we were waiting, a couple Iban women and a Kayan  were telling me about the traditions and cultures of the tribes in Borneo.  SO FASCINATING.  I guess the all like to go back to their Kampongs deep in the jungle because their family there are RICH.  Not with money, but with priceless artifacts and family heirlooms.  I want to go so badly.  They tried to count all the languages and tribes spoken in Borneo, and they lost count after 30.  It is so interesting.  They also have shrunken heads back at their Kampongs in the jungle, which they used to post on the borders of their kampongs to warn other tribes from trespassing.  One of the women said her grandfather had the neck tattoo and the arm tattoo (very significant, means you traveled a great journey, and you're a fierce warrior -- killed people).  The best part of this was that they told me all of this in Malay, and I actually understood it.  I feel like I'm finally getting to the point where I get along just fine with the languge.  Back to investigators.  we have a couple with planned baptisms this month, and I am so sad that I won't be able to see them.  We also have been offered lots of christmas meals at members' houses.  I will also miss Christmas at the HOdder's house.  In fact, I am REALLY sad that I won't spend Christmas with them.  I love going to their house.  They're like my second grandparents-- i love it.  They spoil us. What else. Oh, this isn't as exciting, but we were at district meeting the other day, and one of the senior couples pulled out a photo they took when they accompanied me and Elder Matheson to an investigators house.  Everyone was busting out, because in the background I am making this RIDICULOUS face.  It was so embarrassing.  I was trying to tell the investigators a story, and sister martin just happened to catch my face at a very very bad time..... ugh. On wednesday night, in the middle of the night, Elder Matheson's bed completely broke.  I thought it was someone trying to break in, so I freaked out a little bit (also embarrassing).  It was pretty funny, it woke everybody up and was startled. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD (Tomorrow)!!!!!  What cell phone gadget did you get yourself this time?????  I think I will buy myself something in celebration of your birthday.  I tried buying a slice of cake at the store last week for moms birthday.... and never again will I do that.  Malaysians are still working on making good sweets.... We were supposed to have a caroling activity this week, but it turns out that there is a Muslim law that says you can't sing in public?  Christmas songs?  So.... I guess the plan is to go inside of the people's houses.... and then sing. Speaking of government.... the other day, we were doing studies in the morning and then, all of a sudden, the land lord lets himself in with government officials and they start taking pictures of everything.... Very strange.  They didn't say why either.... they were gone in like 10 minutes.... hmm... I also received a letter from Carson (from college) and Cassie. Carson is going on a mission to Uruguay!  I am very excited for him.  There was one funny thing in the letter.... You can tell when people don't read the blog because they say "HOW IS SINGAPORE???"  Little do they know I am thousands of miles away, including crossing the SOUTH CHINA SEA!!!!  We always find it funny when we find those.  I'm afraid if I send a letter he won't get it in time.  Maybe you can message him and tell him to email me. Elder Crum has been emailing me like crazy because we'll be in the same zone now!!!!!! SO excited for that.  We'll get to go to Singapore together.  And, I need to email Mayo back because now I won't be able to accompany him for his song at their zone conference.... oh well. I think that is all for now, say hi to everybody! Elder Robinson  Reply  Reply to All  Forward  Move  Delete Close   Re: BIG NEWS David Robinson [robinsond@myldsmail.net] Hello Family, Sorry this email has taken so long to get started writing.  This morning has been SOOOO hectic.  There is some pretty big news.  Well, as you know, transfers were coming up so all week we were worried about that.  Elder Matheson has been in Miri for 6 months, and was SURE that he was leaving.  So we have spent a lot of the past couple days doing stuff for him to get ready to go, as well as teach a music class, as well as some other baptisms for other missionaries, and other random activities.  It has been non stop.  WELL, this morning, we get a call from the Zone Leaders to tell me that I AM MOVING TO KUALA LUMPUR TOMORROW!  In fact, I right afterwards got a phone call from my new companion who told me the inside scoop of what is going on.  It turns out that we are actually going to a city about 1 hour away from KL called Klang.  It is a port city on the ocean.  There have never been missionaries there.  There isn't even a branch there.  We will be the first missionaries to open up this area.  I felt very grateful because my new companion said that President trusted me enough to open a completely new area so early on in my mission.  I am very excited.  My new companion, Elder Trotter, also told me that it is going to very very very difficult.  I guess there is a family that is living there that are strong members, that have been going an hour to KL every sunday.  We will go to church in the city until we can get a group started.  I am very excited.  Apparently Malay is heavily spoken in Klang, even though it is in Semananjung (West Malaysia).  Elder Bodhaine is moving to Singapore tomorrow too.  He is excited.  It is weird, because our trainers are going to be staying in Miri.  I have been frantically trying to pack and finish all the little house keeping things back at the house.  I guess it's an hour outside of KL, so we will go there a lot and get yummy food :-)  Oh, and I also quickly opened up all the presents in the advent calendar in case there was anything I wanted :) I am also very depressed about leaving.  I feel like I just barely came here!  It was sad, I went and visited one of my favorite investigators this morning, and told them I was moving, and took some pictures.  Sister Mundun was balling, and I felt really bad.  Her husband, Dangkan, is one of my favorite people, and I am so sad that I will not be here to see his baptism, if he makes it there (which I'm sure he will).  WHen you guys pick me up, I really want to visit all my old areas.  I told them I would come back!  I will also miss being in Borneo.  This past week, we had an activity where the members attempted to make cupcakes and give them to less active members.  Well, as we were waiting, a couple Iban women and a Kayan  were telling me about the traditions and cultures of the tribes in Borneo.  SO FASCINATING.  I guess the all like to go back to their Kampongs deep in the jungle because their family there are RICH.  Not with money, but with priceless artifacts and family heirlooms.  I want to go so badly.  They tried to count all the languages and tribes spoken in Borneo, and they lost count after 30.  It is so interesting.  They also have shrunken heads back at their Kampongs in the jungle, which they used to post on the borders of their kampongs to warn other tribes from trespassing.  One of the women said her grandfather had the neck tattoo and the arm tattoo (very significant, means you traveled a great journey, and you're a fierce warrior -- killed people).  The best part of this was that they told me all of this in Malay, and I actually understood it.  I feel like I'm finally getting to the point where I get along just fine with the languge.  Back to investigators.  we have a couple with planned baptisms this month, and I am so sad that I won't be able to see them.  We also have been offered lots of christmas meals at members' houses.  I will also miss Christmas at the HOdder's house.  In fact, I am REALLY sad that I won't spend Christmas with them.  I love going to their house.  They're like my second grandparents-- i love it.  They spoil us. What else. Oh, this isn't as exciting, but we were at district meeting the other day, and one of the senior couples pulled out a photo they took when they accompanied me and Elder Matheson to an investigators house.  Everyone was busting out, because in the background I am making this RIDICULOUS face.  It was so embarrassing.  I was trying to tell the investigators a story, and sister martin just happened to catch my face at a very very bad time..... ugh. On wednesday night, in the middle of the night, Elder Matheson's bed completely broke.  I thought it was someone trying to break in, so I freaked out a little bit (also embarrassing).  It was pretty funny, it woke everybody up and was startled. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD (Tomorrow)!!!!!  What cell phone gadget did you get yourself this time?????  I think I will buy myself something in celebration of your birthday.  I tried buying a slice of cake at the store last week for moms birthday.... and never again will I do that.  Malaysians are still working on making good sweets.... We were supposed to have a caroling activity this week, but it turns out that there is a Muslim law that says you can't sing in public?  Christmas songs?  So.... I guess the plan is to go inside of the people's houses.... and then sing. Speaking of government.... the other day, we were doing studies in the morning and then, all of a sudden, the land lord lets himself in with government officials and they start taking pictures of everything.... Very strange.  They didn't say why either.... they were gone in like 10 minutes.... hmm... I also received a letter from Carson (from college) and Cassie. Carson is going on a mission to Uruguay!  I am very excited for him.  There was one funny thing in the letter.... You can tell when people don't read the blog because they say "HOW IS SINGAPORE???"  Little do they know I am thousands of miles away, including crossing the SOUTH CHINA SEA!!!!  We always find it funny when we find those.  I'm afraid if I send a letter he won't get it in time.  Maybe you can message him and tell him to email me. Elder Crum has been emailing me like crazy because we'll be in the same zone now!!!!!! SO excited for that.  We'll get to go to Singapore together.  And, I need to email Mayo back because now I won't be able to accompany him for his song at their zone conference.... oh well. I think that is all for now, say hi to everybody! Elder Robinson

Malaysia news

Hello Family,

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!  Or SELAMAT HARI JADI!  Or 生日快乐！I hope you have a good day.  52 years old..... phew.   Did you get my letter that I sent?  I've sent a bunch of letters to you guys, and it seems like you guys haven't gotten any of them... or atleast don't act like you do.  Did you make the usual??  White cake, white frosting with coconut, and raspberry jam?  That sounds very yummy right now.  Let me guess, everyone is still making you cook/clean even on your birthday.  Or maybe Kaitlin has been spending too much time on Pinterest again and found some obscure/complicated recipe to try!  I hope that letter gets to you..... Did you do anything fun?  Did you get anything nice?  OH, I forgot you spent the weekend in Phoenix, how is Arizona?  Warmer?  

I also got all your letters from thanksgiving, including the letter about the Good Samaritan.  I read through it all, and found it very interesting.  It is weird, because I had never thought of the story like that, but now that I've read that analysis of it, I don't think I'll ever think of the story any other way.  Regardless, it was a very nice message and I tried to use an example from it at church yesterday.  THank you for that.  I also forgot to mention that I got the article you clipped out of the paper about Bishop Causse (?).  I really liked that message as well.  

Update from last Monday:

We had our Thanksgiving feast at the Hodder's house.  There was soooooo much food, and it was so good.  There was a unspoken competition for whose food would be the most popular, and Putnam/Bodhaine were sure it was going to be their fajitas and homemade egg nog (both of which were delicious), but everyone LOVED the cabbage salad.  So much that the Senior couples made me write down the recipe to give to them.  ALso, we made the Pumpkin pie krusteaz packet you sent, and again, EVERYONE loved it, and wanted more.  I think I spent a total of 15RM on my contributions, and everyone else dropped big amounts.  haha.  It was really nice, and felt like thanksgiving.  We had so much extra food that we had district meeting at their house the next day, and just ate left overs, and were still full!  We've been getting very creative with what we make.  Yesterday, we made more cabbage salad, homemade curry, and rice pudding for our sunday dinner.  It was so good.  After 3 months, we're finally getting the whole group cooking thing down.  

It has been a good week for missionary work.  We have several investigators who are preparing for baptism this month.  Unfortunately, we've had to move back their baptism dates because of word of wisdom issues.  On the brightside, this making them look deep inside themselves for what they really want.  One of our investigators is beginning to understand that if he wants the significant changes the gospel can bring, he will have to make significant changes in his life.  Probably the most rewarding part of the week was when one of our Investigators didn't read in the BoM.  We decided it would be best if we didn't continue with our lesson, but read with him.  We asked where he was in his BoM reading, and he said 1 Nefi 3.  We read the first 20 verses, and asked what he thought.  He wasn't really sure.  We asked him to really search the verses, and see if there was anything that related to him.  He found verses 7 and 15.  With a little bit of explanation from us, he was able to finally see how these ancient stories applied directly to him.  He was making all sorts of connections, and using his name instead of Nefi's name as he described how God doesn't expect us to do something unless a way is prepared for us to accomplish it.  He also related how no matter how many times we have tried to "go back to Jerusalem", we must continue to berusaha (strive/push forward/do what you're supposed to) until the time the Lord finds most appropriate.  He also liked how Nefi said he would NOT return home, as long as he and his heavenly father lived, until he had done what he needed to.  It was so rewarding to see the scriptures becoming a tool and not a chore in this man's life.  I honestly think this experience will continue with him, and spark the interest he has in making scripture reading a habit in his life.  I am so excited for him.  

I read a talk from Conference in the Ensign the other day that really made me think about my investigators.  The talk was from the Priesthood session of conference, by Elder Eyring.  It talked about how each one of us is blessed with unique gifts and talents, each specifically given to us to enlarge us, to make a difference in the lives of another, and to help the work progress.  He mentioned  briefly that he became the man that he was today because others could see the gifts and potential that he had-- much better than he could see.  I think this is so true.  THe people we teach are soo great, and it kills me that they can't see what I can see when they view themselves.  THe talk also said that if we do everything that we can to seek for revelation, the Lord will tell us everything we need to know about another's gifts, so that we can help them discover what treasures the Lord has in store for them.  This takes a lot of work and effort on our part-- we're still working on it.  THe more  you dedicate yourself to finding the gifts of another, you begin to forget yourself, and really begin to see as the Savior sees.  To look at a person, and search for every strength they have, and listen for what potential gifts they could receive, is so humbling.  This really is the perfect time to just forget about yourself and help others, I'm very grateful for that.  It is going to kill me if I have to leave next week.  Transfer details are given next monday, and then we have to leave our area by thursday. 

OH, and I got the Advent Calendar!  I love it!  I wish this computer was working better so that I could upload a picture of it on our door!  The people I'm living with are kinda ingrates, and don't appreciate it, but then they are the first ones to use the pillow cases and crystal light!!  I love the pillow cases, it reminds me of how we used to always switch to the Christmas pillow cases in December.  Do you remember mine?  I think it was blue and had little small print reindeer on it.  #homesick

Embarrassing moment.  

Yesterday in church, the chorister gave me a piece of paper with all the songs we would be singing, and their respective number in the English Hymn book.  I thought, great, I'll use the english one since it has bigger print.  Well, it is find and dandy until we get to the intermediate hymn.  They told me Hark all ye nations.  On the board, it said 122 in the Indonesian Hymn Book, (the index says that is hark all ye nations) but really 122 is put your shoulder to the wheel.  (124 was hark all ye nations.... typo).  So I start playing hark all ye nations, and NO ONE is singing.  I'm looking out at the congregation and am SO confused.  Not even the senior couples were singing, so I was especially confused.  On the second verse, people started singing.  Well, since there are 3 verses in hark all ye nations, I stop.  EVERYONE LOOKS AND ME AND TELLS ME TO KEEP PLAYING!  I was so lost.  It turns out, the congregation started singing put your shoulder to the wheel, to the tune of hark all ye nations!!!! WHICH HAS 4 verses!  ugh.  I was so embarrassed.  I literally did nothing wrong, but everyone thought I was just messing up up there.  OOf. 

Speaking of music.  Since we're trying to find service projects here, we are teaching music classes starting this saturday.  The hope is that nothing like yesterday will ever happen again.  We even might start teaching piano lessons because the senior couples have found 7 electric keyboards.  SIster waktins would be proud.  haha.  The goal of this first class is to understand how to read the hymn book.  When it says, sing happy... sing happy (not shouting).   When it says sing gently.... sing gently (not shouting).  We'll see how well it goes.

They had a youth activity at the church the other day, and one of our investigators nephews came.  We went with him, and afterwards, they had donuts!  I hadn't had a donut for so long, so I pointed to one and asked what flavor.  The lady said, "creme filled"  I take a huge excited bit to find out that it was creme flavored....... durian creme flavored..... #malaysiapains

We also had to cancel another lesson the other day because the rain was so loud.  We were screaming and they still couldn't hear us.  

OH, and the hodder's loved the oven mit (?).  I also gave them my box of toffee because they gave me a camera tripod.  It didn't fit their camera, so they wanted me to take it.  I thought i would say thanks.

Ok. that's all

bai

Elder Robinson