Busy Week In Kuala Lumpur

Dear Family,

I don't even know what happened this past week.  I'm not sure if I've ever been more busy in my life, or if I just went crazy.  It was a very nice week, full of rewarding, as well as humbling, experiences.  I'm not sure where to start.

Well, the Malacca Elders called and needed a baptismal interview done, so we made plans to go to Malacca at 3:00 for a 7:30 appointment, and then just bus back.  Insert Murphy's law.  My companion was positive the buses to Malacca left from this one station called Plaza Rakyat, but when we arrived there, we were told they haven't left from that station for 3 years..... we then took an expensive and long taxi ride to the other side of town to a place called Tasik Bandar Selatan, where they have a very nice bus depot.  We finally left at 5:00, (I got a 2 hour nap ^__^) and then met up wiht the elders there.  At first, the family we were supposed to interview wasn't there, and didn't end up coming back until 8:40.... keep in mind our bus leaves the station at 10:00.  

She came in, and seemed very flustered.  She is a single mom, with 3 kids varying in age.  As we first began to talk with her, we realized that she just wasn't ready.  We didn't want to interview her, but with what time we had, thought we would talk to her.  At first, she seemed very indifferent, and almost as if she had no idea what we were talking about.  There were 4 missionaries there, and all of us were trying to play, guess what her real problem is, or what we thought it was, and what we thought the answer would be.  I got frustrated and sat there as I heard people going through the motions.  After getting no where, I got an impression to thank her for letting us in, for letting us meet her family, and for raising such wonderful children.  It went silent, and then she burst into tears.  She opened up about many things the missionaries had no idea about.  She has many challenges, and her family is what keeps her going.  She admitted she needed to investigate further to find out if this is really what she wants.  We again thanked her, and left her with some scriptures.  

It was such an interesting experience, and after reviewing that story, I realized it didn't do it justice.  Sometimes we get into the routine of things, and think we automatically know the situation, know the answers, and know how to help.  While doing all of this, we miss the most important part: listening.  Whether it is listening to the Spirit, listening to what the other person says, or just closing our own mouth to understand before being understood, we have to first listen if we want to be able to address or hlep a problem.  I am studying a lot about the role of personal revelation in one's life, and realize that most of it comes when we take the time to quiet ourselves, humble ourselves, and take the time to listen to the Spirit.

We barely made it on the bus back, and I sat next to a Melayu kid about our age.  We ended up talking the entire bus ride back to KL.  It was fantastic.  He had such a great story.  He was essentially starting over in KL after a very hard time in Malacca.  He was shocked to hear about what we did, and that we weren't like the movies.... he told us he thought all Americans were like what he saw in the party movies.... >.<  It was really sweet seeing his family wave goodbye at the bus station-- you could really tell he is loved.  It also reminded me of how much worth and investment is in each soul.  Ironically enough, this kids name was Fahmi, which in Arabic means understanding, or Malay, kefahaman.  He told me how he has learn to understand so much more to life from experience.  He told me this great line in Malay, "Pengalaman mendewasakan kita" which translates to experience makes us grow/mature, but sounds 10x nicer in malay.  How true!  He told me I would get a lot of that while in Malaysia... how true, again!

Well, I was so caught up talking with Fahmi that I didn't remember to take my scriptures out of the bus pouch in front of me.  I didn't realize till we got home that I didn't have my quad- the ones I've had since Seminary, with all my notes and annotations!  I was very depressed and felt any attempts to retrieve the scriptures would be of no use.  We decided, the next day, to go back all the way to Tasik Bandar Selatan, and ask if they had seen anything.  We went into customer service, and I told them that I had left a very special book on a bus last night, and that I needed to get it back.  They told me the bus had already left for up north near thailand, and that it had no plans of coming back to Kuala Lumpur. She told me she would try calling the driver, but that I should go grab a drink and wait 15 minutes.  When we came back, she informed us that she had spoken with the driver, who went back to check, and found the scriptures in the pouch where I left them.  He went around and found a friend who was heading back to KL, and asked his friend if he would take this book back to TBS.  I went back the next day, and was able to have my, as they put it, "bible book" back.  What a blessing that was.  As we were walking out of the station, I heard someone yell, ELDERS!  I turned around to see a large African man smiling and running towards us.  It turns out this man was from Ghana, and was moving to Malacca, and didn't know where the church was, or even if there was church here.  He said he had been praying to find out.  It just so happened I had to go retrieve my scriptures at the very same time at the same bus station outside of KL.  God works in mysterious ways!

Alice, our most progressing investigator, is doing so well.  She is so sweet.  There was a child of record baptism at our chapel on saturday from another branch, so we invited her to come see it.  She did, and brought some of her family.  She was so happy the entire time, and we talked about her baptism date.  It just so happened that President and Sister Mains were randomly in KL that day, and decided to drop in.  So Alice was able to meet them, and make her feel at home.  Alice repeatedly talks about how much our church is like a family.  One of the talks at church yesterday was from an expat visitor and he talked about how the church is like a refuge and home wherever you are.  Alice says it felt like home the moment she walked in.  Alice and I also had a long discussion about the interpretation of Lehi's dream.  She is so great!

That same day, I had one of the most horrific experiences of my life.  Alice's sister in law, took us to meet with her nephew.  It was so inhumane how this poor man was living, and how the tenants of his apartment had a total disregard for his well being.  I don't even want to think about the scene we saw!  It made me very grateful for the life I've been given, the hand I was dealt.  I hope Eric would never leave me in a condition as this brother had left his!

Elder Scott and I went to Chilis on our yearmark and bought a nice dinner.  Little did I know one of the expat visitors would take us to Outback steakhouse the next night, otherwise I wouldn't have spent all that money!  We didn't grocery shop last week, too busy, so this week i'm going to get some good food for the celebration.  I'm buying some bratwurst and eggnog :)

My hand hurts from typing all this!  ok bai

Elder Robinson

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may con

Dear Family,

This was a fantastic week.  As stated in the title of this email, this past week was the start of Ramadan!  Everyone is fasting now, which means around 7:30 they all iftar (break the fast) = fantastic food EVERYWHERE.  Bro. Moore did the math, and he figures any LDS person who fasts once a month, and more throughout the year actually fasts more than the number of hours during the month of  Ramadan.  Interesting.  I tried explaining our interpretation of fasting, and that we do it as well, to a man from Libya on the train the other day.  He didn't seem to agree.  Oh well.

Because it is Ramadan, restaurants are a ghost town during the day, so there are lots of sales for food.  :D

Speaking of food (before I talk about real things).  Last monday, our old branch president gave us a call.  He works in the U.S. Embassy, and is getting transferred to Buenos Aires this week, so he invited us over to his condo and told us to take all of his food (which was all imported from America).  It was fantastic.  We ended up boxing a lot of it to give to investigators, and also to some of the other missionaries.  We kept the good stuff (i.e. Lucky Charms, Kashi, marshmallows, cliff bars, pasta).  There was also 6 bags of seaweed....?  I'll have to include pictures.

We had some really cool experiences this past week.  We are working with a tamil woman named Alice.  She has made it known to us that she has been looking for something like this for such a long time, and then, as if an answer to her prayers, we called her on the phone one day.  It is so nice to be working with a local.  We deal a lot with people who are not malaysian citizens (I'll elaborate on that later...).  She was so happy at church yesterday, and told me she just loves the spirit that she feels, and the bonds with the other women in relief society!  

One of the issues we have been facing with her is finding a male member present.  We can't enter into a home or car with a female investigator unless there is a male present.  We have been teaching her at a cafe near her flower stand, but it's hard because we're not supposed to pray out loud (lots of muslims around) in public, and it's a bit noisy.  Well, as an answer to our prayers, we were teaching her when, all of a sudden, the phone rang.  I checked my phone, and saw that it was an 801 number!  I thought it was someone pulling a prank on me!  Turns out it is a man from Herriman, utah, who is working with Franklin Covey, and he was calling not only to ask where the church was, but also that he wanted to help the missionaries after work whenever her could!  He will be here for a few weeks, and we fully intend on using him!  The best part about it is that he is willing to help.  he's already been assigned to give a talk next week >.<  We ate dinner with him at the Moore's home yesterday to fill him in.  Very good day.  

Other strange call.

We have 2 cell phones, one that we carry around everyday, and one that we keep at the house for reporting.  We returned home one day to see several missed calls from a Hong Kong number, and he left a message saying "this is Dr. Bertin, I'm looking for Elder Robinson and Scott." and then hung up.  It was quite strange, and we couldn't call him back.  So yesterday while I was studying before church, we got a call from the same number.  It turns out he is the Asia Area Medical Adviser for the church, on a mission but didn't use his title Elder on the voicemail!  He was on an assignment last week in Kuching, and while in his hotel room, he found an iPod touch in his couch.  He said it was a really fancy one, with lots of stuff on it.  Anyway, it had information about the owner, which said he lived in Kuala Lumpur.  So, this Elder Dr. Bertin is shipping us this iPod from Hong Kong, and gave us the address with the express order to "take this box with a book of mormon to his house and find him!"  haha.  What are the odds of that?  I just got an email of the shipping information, so it should be here soon.  That is the strangest referral I've ever received!  

We had another success the other day.  We have been using an awesome recent convert of 8 months to help us teach Sis. Alice.  It has been so awesome to see Amika fellowship Alice, but I have never taken much time to think of the effects it has on the other side.  We received an SMS from her thanking us for including her in the helping Alice learn about the church.  She informed us that she has been having a hard time recently, and that being a part of helping another learn about the gospel has had a healing effect on her own life.  It's amazing how sharing the gospel not only helps those who are learning about the gospel, but those who are remembering what they had once learned, and experiencing the spirit of the work again.   

I found an Arab restaurant that was probably in the top five most delicious things ever this past week.  

This Friday we'll be traveling down to Melaka.  It should be an interesting experience.  We get to go on exchanges with all of these Elders, so I'm excited.  I love the elders here in KL.  

Ok, I can't think of anything else!  Bai!

Elder Robinson

Power People in Klang

Dear Family,

Well,

I just got off the phone with President Mains, and he asked if I would be the new Kuala Lumpur Zone Leader!  I don't have to leave!  In fact, I get to move to downtown KL.  I'm pretty excited about that.  I guess I'll be able to keep the name KL kid!  It's the largest Zone in the mission.  I also will have to report to Singapore once a month for Mission Leadership Council.  Elder Mayo is a ZL in Singapore! Fun times ahead.

What else happened this week.  

One of our investigators, over the past few weeks, has had some very significant experiences with his testimony.  It has been amazing for me to see, first hand, how the gospel (properly applied) can have a healing effect on a person's life.  I think what is even better is when the individual realizes that it is happening.  This week, unfortunately, was the last week we would be with him for a while, because he is temporarily moving up north to work on a resort island.  We've been talking to him on the phone, since he has moved, and I'm positive when he comes back (in two months) he will be baptized.  He has picked September 8th as the day he wants to prepare himself to be baptized.  It has been humbling to get to know him.  

I'm so glad that I'm still staying in KL so that I can see how the Klang group continues.  There are several people that I want to see still.  As in, I hope I am able to attend their baptisms.  This really is a blessing that I will still be so close to the people I have grown close to.  We have an investigator, his name is Jason, and we had one of the most tender (for lack of a better word) lessons I've ever had.  Tender, in that it was so evident how merciful the Lord is in remembering all of his children.  Sometimes, we don't realize we need food until we feel the hunger pains in our stomach.  I think this is the same in the gospel.  

btw, this is really hard for me to stay focused on email, because I have 293750475 people calling me. 

I also went on exchanges with Elder Connoly, who is serving in PJ, and it was a nice experience.  He is leaving in just a few weeks, so it was really nice to see his perspective on things.  He is having a hard time with his companion.  He is holding up really well though.  Ok, I don't really no what else to write.... my brain is a little jumbled at the moment.  

Happy Father's Day, Dad!  I plan on writing another, smaller email to you, so hold on abit.

Bai, 

Elder Robinson

First off, HAPPY FATHER"S DAY, DAD!  I completely forgot about it until I read President Mains' email telling us to remember... haha, no one talks about it here, so I don't know if they celebrate it.  Hopefully you eat something good, Boston Creme Pie?

This past week was a lot of fun.  For the first time since I have been in KL, we had a two night stay in Singapore, instead of busing out on Thursday night.  It was great.  Elder Crum and Elder Mayo are living in the same house in Singapore, so we spent most of the time with them and their companions.  Again, too much fun.  We did the usual-- eat delicious singaporean food.  President Mains wanted us to spend as much time at the Stake Center as possible, which was actually really fun because then we were able to be around all the missionaries.  It's great to see old faces like that.  We had a fun training where we teamed up with the Sabah Zone, and practiced our language skills.  I made sure that i was paired with a native (even though I may have bothered others in the process...)  I was so proud that he said my Bahasa was really good, but that I had a thick KL accent!  haha, that's exactly what I wanted!  We had a good laugh.  We also had an interesting training on the language of prayer, and the reasons why we use different language.  Respect, Relationship, Responsibility.  

I am so happy that you guys were able to meet with Mike and Mel!  I can't believe that the person I taught, who was in Klang just a little bit ago, is now eating at our house!  Janelle showed me the pictures.... all of them, including the embarrassing ones -_____-  

I'm glad you like them, I really think they're great.  I hope he figures out what he wants to do now, I was kind of nervous about that when he left.  I think he is going to need a good ward with a good Elders Quorum.  I think he needs to be a young men's leader.  I didn't get a chance to get his email address, so have him shoot me an email when he can. 

Elder Stahle and I are sending a package home.  We are trying to save money and just include it all in one package.  In it is my Baju Melayu and Sarung, some books that were given me by some other Imams, and some other stuff.  I think the Stahle's will contact you when it arrives.  I don't think I will have enough time today to buy kaitlin a Hijab-- especially if she wants a nice one.  You can buy them, literally, everywhere, but there are so many cheap looking ones-- I can't buy those ones.  And as far as Sari's go, Klang has a thriving little India, with lots of silk shops where mom and dad can buy a nice one.  

We had a significant experience where an investigator had an extremely challenging week, and the gospel was able to help.  It is far too private to share over email, but I will say that the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit it invited, saved his life this week.  It blows my mind how powerful the Book of Mormon can be when the beholder understands what it is.  It also blows my mind to see how it can be just a book to someone who does not understand.  This was a huge leap for this investigator, as he was able to experience that for himself.  I sometimes get caught up in thinking of the Book of Mormon solely as a tool for proving the Restoration, and forget how much of a role it plays in just the everyday conversion.  I think for most people, the best part about it is that it helps them draw nearer to God.  

At church yesterday, in the class I taught, we had people reading out of 4 different languages.... very cool, very challenging.  

Elder Gee sent me a picture from France, and I can't even imagine what it is like doing missionary work in a place like that.  So beautiful.  

I can't think of anything else to include.  I'm getting nervous about transfers next week.  I've got a lot to take care of just in case I get shipped out of here!  

ok bai

Elder Robinson

Awesome Week

Dear Family, 

This week was packed with interesting events.  Some much better than others.  I'm not even sure where to start.

Tuesday evening was bitter sweet, because that was when we sent Mike and Mel off!  We haven't been able to see them in a while because of how busy they were, but on Tuesday we were able to have a final dinner with the whole family.  It was sad to see them go, but I think this will be a huge step forward for them.  Especially because they are moving to Utah.  I could tell that the whole Ting family was really going to miss them both.  I hope their ward in Utah welcomes them and picks up right where we left off, because he still has a long way to go.  I'm glad you're going to dinner with them.  They have a package from me to hand off.  There should also be an envelope with 2 SD cards with all of my pictures.  Hope they didn't lose it!  Give them my email, because I forgot to!

On Wednesday, we had an "interesting" experience.  There are some flats in Klang that we have been visiting for some time.  We have several investigators, and a member family that stay there.  Each set of flats in Malaysia always come with its own Mosque.... this comes in later.  Well.... on Wednesday, we went to these flats to meet with VJ (who was baptized yesterday, tell about that later) to review some final things with him.  It was a great lesson.  As we were leaving his flat, we walked out the door to find 5 Muslim men, dressed in full robes/dress, big beards, the works, standing out there waiting for us.  One of them immediately walked towards me and started talking to me in quick Bahasa.  I understood him, and that is what threw me off.  usually, locals NEVER assume we speak Bahasa unless the KNOW otherwise.... These men knew.  They went on to tell me that I was not allowed here, that I needed to leave, and that I should not come back.  They kept saying, don't you know this is a "negara islam?" (islamic country). I made it very clear to them that I knew what the laws were, and that I was not in violation of any of them.  One of them had their phone out, with the JAIS on the line, which is the Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor, which is the ministry of islamic religion for the state.  These guys were telling me that this was a rule.  I didn't buy it.  I started freaking out because I didn't want to talk to anybody on the phone.  These guys were using zero logic.  I told them that I had never preached to a Muslim, and that all we were doing was visiting a friend, and that they had no business in what we did with out friends.  They didn't like that at all.  VJ told them that he invited us over, and that in his house, what is discussed is none of their concern.  Again, they couldn't see the logic in that.  They went on to say that just the fact that people see us is an issue. These men were the local priests from the local mosque, and told us that they had been watching us for some time (I've never seen them O.o)  and that they don't want us there any more.  I asked again, if this was a law or just what they wanted.  They wouldn't give me a straight answer.  They kept asking to see my identification, and wanted me to talk to the JAIS, and at this point I was quite freaked out.  Something very chilling happened right as we were about to leave, the head guy looked at us with a very eery smile and said, it would be better if we never came back.  We got out of there quickly.  I called around, and everyone says we were in no violation of any state or federal laws.  I decided to call the zone leaders about it because it shook us up a bit, and they told President Mains.  Now President Mains is worried about it and giving a training this week at Zone Conference about getting to the roots of the legalities.  I was kind of embarrassed that it made it's way to the top, but the Mission leadership really needs to make it very clear, preferably something written, about what the laws are for foreigners proselyting in the country.  We were told that part of town has muslim gangs, and that we should maintain a low profile.  Two white guys in church clothes on bikes.... low profile?  Oh well.

Even after all of that, Vijayakumar, son of Muniandy, was still baptized!  It was such a good day yesterday.  Everything, as usual, just seemed to work out.  I think baptisms are extremely stressful for missionaries so that they can be a wonderful experience for others.  It is still a wonderful experience for me, just different.  

Elder Chan, the Area Seventy from our group, confirmed him, and gave an awesome, provoking blessing.  There was a lot said in that prayer.  I am so excited for VJ, and for all that this gospel has to offer him.  I know, and as was confirmed in his blessing, that Temple work and family history is going to be huge for him.  It is so nice to have so many of our friends at church so willing to help.  

When VJ bore his testimony, I think everyone was blown away.  He has the funniest English, extremely proper words, funny grammar, indian accent.  The language itself wasn't the amazing part, but rather the confidence he had in what he was doing.  VJ is so quick to obey, not because he blindly follows, but because he has humbled himself enough to know the master's call.  It's interesting to reflect on how much I have learned from VJ, and his example.  

I also had lots of little experiences throughout the week that have helped and made me grow.  It's amazing how if you are in the right spirit and mindset, every waking moment can turn into a powerful learning experience.  It is all dependent on what we want, and how we choose it.  

We're flying down to Singapore on Wednesday, and will be there until Saturday.  I'm pretty excited to see everyone.  

Transfers are on June 20th, and I can just tell me time is short in the Kuala Lumpur area.  I think yesterday was probably the last time I'll get to visit the Subang Jaya Branch.  There are so many awesome members there, and here in Klang.  They are so helpful with everything.  They are also extremely intelligent, and full of experience.  It's going to be sad when I leave :( but I'm sure wherever the next place will be full of great, different, experiences.

That's funny about Elder Matheson.  Looking back, I was such a brat to him in that companionship.  I've grown to appreciate him so much more since then.  He called me the night before he went back to America, and we talked for about an hour.  It was a great talk. I can't wait to see him again.  We're going to run a triathlon together.  

ok, I think that's all.  Have a nice week.  Take pictures of graduation.  Bai

Elder Robinson