Kuching

Dear Family,

Another week has flown by.  I was trying to think back at what happened last week and was shocked that it had only been one week since all that stuff happened- it seems like a month ago!  This was a very nice week, and now I'm trying to think of why....

Last Pday we were trying to go to the River Safari, but because it was a public holiday for New Years, it was packed... so we ended up just going to the zoo.  The zoo was reallly cool.  Much better than the Hogle Zoo... they brag that the Singapore Zoo is the best in the world- they also say that about the airport.  They like to advertise a lot about what they're best at.  

The beginning of the week was nice in that we were in Singapore, and able to visit some of the members from the 3rd Ward.  Almost every member in our ward is working here to support family members back in the Philippines, so almost everyone rents rooms in flats throughout the island.  We decided to go up North on Wednesday to an area called Sembawang, and visit the members around the area.  One of the people we dropped by and visited was the 1st counselor in the bishopric.  He was shocked and surprised to see us, and said that he had never had missionaries come and visit him in the whole 3 years he's been in Singapore.  He appreciated the scriptures we shared with him and the invitation to help teach one of our investigators.  That experience ties into one that we had earlier that day.  Every week, we have a sit down reporting session with President Mains, where we discuss what happened in the previous week and what needs to happen in the week to come.  After several hours of that, right when we were finished, he asked if there was anything he could do for us.  It was a simple request, but very genuine.  I really appreciated it.  It seems like we get a cut of everyone's problems, but there really isn't anyone seemingly concerned with collecting our own problems.  I wonder if that 1st counselor in the bishopric felt the same way when we came over and offered our assistance- however small it may be.

We spent the second half of the week in Kuching, Sarawak.  Eric asked if there were any areas that we bused to.... the answer is no, we fly everywhere.  I just got my MalaysiaAirlines frequent flier card as well as my SingaporeAirlines frequent flier card.  Anyway, we arrived in Kuching and had our zone leader training in their awesome new building which they call the KDC (Kuching District Center).  It was massive, and was built in  preparation for a stake.  It looks and feels like an American chapel!  Elder Toney followed the Zone Leaders this time, and I followed the Chinese Elders and another companionship a little outside of town.  While I was with the Chinese Elders, we visited a man who had a really cool story. The Allens (senior couple in KK) were in Kuching during December on a humanitarian assignment.  While there, they contacted a tour guide that they met and sent his number to the Chinese Elders there.  The Chinese Elders have been meeting with him, and he is on date to be baptized. It turns out that he had seen elders, years before, and approached them... expecting them to talk to him, so he kept getting closer and closer to them, but they never talked to him.  He waited year later until Elder Allen opened his mouth to him.  After leaving the appointment, I told the Elders that they should give the Allens a call, and that they would be excited to hear about that.  The Allens happened to be in Kuching that night, and were so excited to hear the news.  

The next day I was out of the town a bit in a place called Kota Sentosa.  It was nice to follow these Elders who I had never met.  It was a real throw back to be in Sarawak again, sitting on the floors of small wooden houses eating a seemingly endless flow of crackers and syrupy drinks.  I was so stuffed of saltine crackers by the end of the night that it made me sick!  (I don't miss that)  I was reminded of how nice these people are, and how pure their desires seem to be.  I compare it with one of our investigators here who could not get past the fact that the Book of Mormon claims that Jeremiah was imprisoned before Jerusalem was sacked by Babylon... or something to that effect.  It seems like too much intellect and understanding can diminish ones ability to actually learn and understand if they aren't careful.  I've grown to appreciate the principle of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

We flew back into Singapore late Saturday afternoon and had to rush back to the Stake Center to catch the fireside.  It was Glen Rawson (I can't recall if I mentioned this last week... but he is the guy who does the Joseph Smith Papers).  Anyway, he put on a devotional for us.  It was really interesting.  At first, it seemed like he was rambling a lot of trivial details at us, but as the night went on, I really started to enjoy it.  He told us the story of Joseph Smith's life from birth until he received the Gold plates, but filled with tons of little facts and accounts that aren't well known.  I really appreciated how personable it made Joseph seem.  Bro. Rawson reminded us that Joseph was just a man, but who rose to the great calling given to him.  He kept mentioning the thought, to what end are we raised?  It was very insightful.  He reminded us of our pioneer heritage, and not to forget it, because too much has been sacrificed for the cause to not remember.  I'd appreciate it if you included a couple family history stories in each email- that would be something worth knowing and reading.  Get grandma involved too!

This next week is going to be really busy for us.  RIght after meeting with president tomorrow, we fly to Bintulu, Sarawak for a few days, then fly back on thursday for MLC.  The next morning, friday, we will be flying out to Sibu for the rest of the week.  Hopefully we get back before church on sunday morning.  I'm getting better at talking to people on the plane.  

can't wait to see where Eric gets called to.  I thought about asking President Mains to send an email to Elder Evans (head of missionary department) in Salt Lake.  haha.  

ok bai

Elder Robinson

Gong Xi Cai

This week was a better week, very busy though.  We started off pday by waking up at 6 so that we could go on a jog around our part of town, and then be in the office by 7:30 ready to report.  It takes a lot of time to report, I just finished.  It's really good to hear from all the zone leaders.  We then went to play a GIANT game of ultimate frisbee in a park on one end of the island- it was so much fun.  I'd never played frisbee before, but I was instantly hooked.  I embarrassingly got a little too into it, and dove (and caught) a frisbee which ended up ripping pants and cutting me up pretty badly.  I was so sore afterwards.  We then had an appointment with a member, where we could ask how we could help them.

It was a busy week of exchanges, we flew out on tuesday to Kuala Lumpur and had such a good time.  I had a really interesting experience on the airplane.  We typically fly Malaysia Airlines or SilkAir (which is part of the Singapore Airlines company).  Well, when we got to the airport, we found that they had upgraded us to a Singapore Airlines flight, which is super fancy.  A business man sat down next to me, and immediately fell asleep.  Throughout the flight, I kept having this feeling that I should talk to him.  After some refreshments were passed out, he woke up and started acting fidgety.  I jumped on the opportunity and asked him if he was going to KL on business.  He responded yes, in a thick French accent.  I asked what he did, and he said he was in the luxury goods business.  After a few minutes, I found out that he was from Paris, lives in Hong Kong with his family, and is the President of Louis Vuitton Asia.  haha.  He then went on to point out every piece of Louis Vuitton he was wearing (everything).  We had a good conversation for the rest of the flight, and talked about all sorts of things: missionary work, job advice, families, God, and prayer.  By the end of the flight he was so happy that I had talked with him.  He said how grateful he was for flights, where we have to turn off our phone for an hour and listen!  I committed him to say a prayer that night, and to visit mormon.org.  I really hope that he prayed that night.

It was so nice to be back in KL.  I was able to see a lot of old friends from the branch.  One of the people that Elder Rasmussen and I found was baptized last week and confirmed yesterday, so we had dinner at President Woodford's house with charles (the one who was just baptized).  The Woodford's are so great.  I also just heard that a man named Leong, who Elder Stahle and I found, who was doing so well then suddenly moved North after a sudden divorce, found the Elders in Puchong, went to church, and is on target again towards being baptized.  We visited sis Alice, and taught a brief lesson with her daughter, who is now on date and reading the book of mormon as well.   I was so happy to find KL doing so well.  Also (side note) KFC in east malaysia is terrible, and I missed west malaysia KFC, so for lunch we went all out and got a ton of fried chicken with their thai chili sauce.  ^_____^  OH BEFORE I FORGET: I made western family macaroni and cheese yesterday for dinner- it was so good.  I took a picture for GMa

After two nights in KL, we woke up super early to go to the airport to fly to Penang.  I used my smart phone to set an alarm, but the phone froze, so we woke up late (still super early though) and rushed down to our taxi, who was a crazy guy (as usual).  Penang was so nice!  I was so impressed with it.  It felt a lot more like California- a lot less tropical, a bit dryer, and cooler temperatures.  The church is in a great location- right next to the Penang Polo club and the turf club in a nice bungalow house.  The chinese have a majority on the island, which gives it a much different feel- almost like Singapore.  We were there for Chinese New Year's which was awesome to see all the decorations as well as for food (or so we thought).  We had a famous Penang Nasi Kandar lunch (where I ate more curry than any person should eat in a 2 week period), and then for dinner we went to a part member family's house and had hot pot.  It turned out to be mountains of processed fish balls.  They insisted on us eating atleast 5 bowls of it.  I got to about half way through the 5th bowl and a piece of artificial crab caught my gag reflex.  I'll have to attach a picture.  The highlight of that trip was when, at this dinner, the family (after we shared a message) went around and bore their testimonies.  It was so cool to hear, because this family has recently been reactivated.  It was great to see how each testimony linked to one another, and how they built off each other.  Very uplifting.  

The next day we flew back into Singapore to go on exchanges with the Singapore North Zone Leaders.  We had just enough time to drop off one suitcase at the apartment, shower, and grab the other bag to head off to their house.  The house next to our condo was throwing a very fancy new year's party, and the whole street was packed with porsches, maseratis, bentleys, and rolls royces, with little chinese business men walking around.  They had a private dragon and lion dance on our street which was cool to briefly see.  My camera was out of batteries, and I have misplaced the charger, so i didn't get good pictures (i just found out yesterday that the charger to our Sony smart phones also works with my sony camera!)

It was super fun to be with the north zone leaders- they're chinese elders, so we were able to meet with a lot of chinese speakers.  They deal mostly with chinese nationalists, so they have awesome chinese.  We had a dinner in a little sketchy chinese restaurant (super delicious) but made me feel like I'd been hit by a train all night.  

cool story:

One of the Elders in our mission is from a town north of KL called Ipoh.  He is serving just across the border of singapore in Johor, Malaysia.  Well, his little brother came down to singapore to get set apart before heading off to Alaska for his mission, and for 24 hours, President Mains let the two Loke brothers be companions in Johor.  Last night, we had little Elder Loke spend the night with us.  He was so excited- literally bouncing off the walls.  It lifted all of our tired spirits.  We sent him to the airport at 3:00AM this morning.  I hope Eric gets called to the Singapore mission- maybe we could go on exchanges!

ok, I'll send this and talk about the housing

Elder Robinson

Dear Family,

Things have been getting a bit better, I suppose.  There have been a lot of ups and downs this week.  Sometimes I'm super happy to be here, and others I'm very confused and discouraged.  I'm trying to figure out what to do here still.  I don't know why this is being so difficult for me- I haven't really had this in other areas.

One of the best highlights of the week was going on exchanges.  We had the opportunity to go up to Miri and to Kota Kinabalu, both places where I have served.  It was weird being in Sarawak again, for the first time since I left Miri over a year ago.  I didn't expect anyone really to remember me.  Anyway, we met the Zone Leaders there and had a great training.  It was really insightful to hear their ideas and get their feedback.  Elder Shuetz is from my MTC group, and is one of the ZLs there.  He is so smart and good at solving technical problems.  I really enjoyed being with him and getting advice from him.  We were able to observe the Miri English class at the church- a model that we want to implement throughout the mission.  I ran into the branch president and his family, and to my surprise they remembered who I was.  It felt really nice to know that someone remembered... in a not vain way.  It helps me remember that we did something meaningful there, and that hopefully we did a few things right.  One of the best parts was to hear that a family, who Elder Matheson and I used to visit, had their baptismal interview that same night, and were baptized just yesterday.  I remember going to the house all the time (the grandfather being a less active member) and seeing how the rest of the family just didn't seem to be that interested.  I believe we were the first ones to start their teaching records.  Very nice closure to that story.  People progress in their own time, and we have to play whatever part we can to help them.  

We had a layover in the resort island of Labuan on our way from Miri to Kota Kinabalu.  We were super excited to be there and buy a souvenir (because missionaries don't go there), but it turns out that, due to flight delays, it was only a 40 minute layover and late enough that all the shops in the airport were closed.  Oh well.  

Going back to KK was great.  Although it had only been a week since I left, it felt like I hadn't been there for ages.  It was weird to feel that it wasn't my area any more.  I ended up showing the Zone Leaders around, meeting with all the people that we left behind.  2 cool stories.  We went to visit Joseph and his Sister Lina, and had such a great lesson.  When they opened the door, we saw that they were watching the restoration movie together as a family.  As we taught about the plan of salvation, Joseph stopped and essentially bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon.  We were teaching about the atonement, and read from Alma 7:11-16 ( I think) and he couldn't help but stop us and say how grateful he was that he could have this extra insight and understanding of the Savior.  That was so good for me to see and hear as well.  It was a needed pick me up.  The second story was when we went down the street to visit with some filipino sisters that Elder Johnson and I began teaching.  They were so excited to hear that I was back haha.  We met them, and she had invited several of her close friends to meet with the missionaries.  During the lesson, she testified of the calling of Joseph Smith- which I had never heard her understand even before!  I was so pleased to hear that the work is still going on.

We were biking back late, and there was still one person named Razlan that I wanted to introduce to them (that they hadn't met yet).  We had planned to see him at 8, but he rescheduled for another day, so we just werne't going to see him.  One of the zone leaders there felt prompted that we should go drop by anyways, even though it was close to 10.  We did, and he was glad that we came.  I wasn't able to see him before I left, so that was some good transition.  We hadn't met him in a while due to work, but he told us that he had been reading the whole time.  We were so happy to see that.  

I'm trying to only write/think about the positive/happy things that happened this week...

That's funny to hear that Eric actually has scoliosis.  I guess not really funny, but funny that he's been self diagnosing himself that for years now. 

I read your guys emails, but there isn't usually a whole lot of pressing matters that need to be responded to........

I'm going to KL on tuesday, and then we'll be in Penang for New Years (which I'm really excited about).  

Gong Xi Fa Cai/ Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Elder Robinson

First Week in Singapore

Dear Family,

Greetings from Singapore.  It has been quite the week, full of ups and downs.  It has been one of the most hard and discouraging weeks of my mission, but also filled with feelings of assurance and strengthening experiences.  

It seems like the moment I landed in Singapore, the adversary played off every weakness/doubt that I thought imaginable.  I've been feeling a bit discouraged, inadequate, and under prepared, and it's been trickier than I thought to work through these.  And then there has been the small, very small, but powerful assurances that this is where I'm supposed to be.  

The moment I landed in Singapore, we had to make preparations for the group of missionaries going back home, and preparations for the incoming group of missionaries from the MTC.  It was very hectic, but here are some highlights.

We had the departing devotional and departing dinner at the Mains' home in Singapore.  It was a cool experience to be in their home (very rare) and to see all of my friends from that group get ready to go home.  My previous companion, Elder Johnson, was in that group, so it was cool to be there with him.  

The next morning, we woke up and headed off to the airport to pick up the new missionaries from Changi Airport.  It was very refreshing to see all the new Elders.  They had such an awesome spirit of excitement about them, it made everyone feel excited to be a missionary.  They were so tired, I couldn't believe it!  I guess I was like that about 17 months ago.  It was great talking to them/escorting them to the Stake Center, and watching them trying to contact people on the train.  The poor guys, they then had a welcome orientation until 6 o clock, and by the time it was 6:00PM, they were zombies.  I had to give several trainings (I was very concerned about when I was supposed to have time to prepare anything, it seemed like we just hit the ground running... and no real time to prepare, I guess I'll have to learn how to fit it in when we have time).  

We then had a training for all the trainers for the new missionaries.  It was really interesting sitting up on the stand for that one, and seeing all the familiar faces getting ready to go out and train.  Elder Mayo was one of them, he just stepped down from ZL and is going to be training in Butterworth (On the coast from Penang).  We did that until about 9, and then had dinner with our roommates at the apartment, then went back to the mission office to prepare for the next days activities, slideshows, etc.  We got home around 12.  AP= long nights and early mornings.

The next day was full of trainings and making sure everything was all perfect for the new missionaries- including making sure they got back to the airport for their flight.  It was nice to eat lunch with them and get to know them.  They're a great bunch of people.

Some other interesting events that have happened:

The Klang elders, the day after they got back from singapre (one is a new missionary), had a guy pull a machete on them and take their wallets, cameras, and passports.  It has been a bit of an ordeal (a late night ordeal >.<) to get copies of the passports to them, file police reports, and contacting the US Embassy in KL.  Thankfully we have some members over there that can help us out.  

A member in KL (puchong Branch) that I got to know a bit through YSA activities and conferences just left to serve a mission in Paris, France.  He spent the night with us in our apartment, it was great to catch up and feel his excitement/desire to serve.  We all woke up at 3 in the morning as he made sure to get into his taxi on time (terrible flight time).   

We are assigned to the Singapore 3rd Ward, which happens to be the Filipino ward.  haha.  It's a lot of fun, and everyone is so friendly and awesome.  We have 2 sister missionaries also assigned to our ward, and they keep things fun.  We spend a lot of time in the office, but it says we're not supposed to be office elders.  I think that's one of the things that i want to change here.... a lot of time working on projects and tasks that aren't that pressing, or not even that necessary most of the time.  Some of the highlights of this week have been visiting the filipino members and hearing their testimonies, and offering our service.  

Singapore has it's perks.  I get my own smart phone, and have my own computer and desk in our office in the mission office.  The mission office is right behind the stake center, and our apartment is in the adjacent building to the stake center, so everything is so conveniently close.  The food is really good.  Really good.  And you end up paying for it.  I ate at a thai restaurant for lunch the other day and had a fantastic green curry, and had indonesian BBQ on friday.  I think we're going to China town for lunch today and to buy stuff for Chinese new years.  I went to the grocery store the other day to buy some shampoo, body wash, and razors, and when I saw the total add up to 40Sing, I went and put all of it back and am just going to wait until tomorrow when I fly to malaysia- I'll just buy it there where it will be half as much!!  Yes, we get to travel around a bit.  On tuesday, we'll be flying to Miri Sarawak for a day or two, and then from there we fly to Labuan, and then to Kota Kinabalu.  We get back in Singapore on Saturday... I think.  We go on exchanges with all the zone leaders once every 6 weeks.  It will be cool because I have served in both Miri, and KK, so i hope to see some familiar faces.  Next week we'll be in Kuala Lumpur for a day or two, and then up in Penang on Chinese New Years to visit the zone leaders there.  I'm not adjusted to the Singapore air con.  I've been afraid I'm going to catch a cold because EVERYWHERE is refrigerated.  Including our really nice apartment.  I think I'm going to have to pull out some personal money and buy a sweatshirt.  

That's all I can think of for now.  Hope everything is good in SLC

happy belated Birthday, Kaitlin.

Elder Robinson  

Dear Sister Robinson,

 

We are the Sr. Couple serving in Kota Kinabalu.  We have been here 6 months and have the privilege of serving with your son. He has only been with us a couple months and now has been called to serve as an Assistant to Pres. Mains. He will leave KK and fly to Singapore to fill his new assignment in 2 days and we will miss him very much.  

 

Even though we are serving a humanitarian mission here, we see and interact with the 8 Elders in our city almost daily.  Elder Robinson is an exceptional missionary!  He is an exceptional person!  His calm influence, his straight honesty and kind ways win him friends wherever he goes.  He has a gentleness and faith that attracts people who are wandering.  What a blessing he has been in our area.  He will be an awesome leader in this mission and everyone agrees. 

 

Thank you for sharing him with us half way across the world.  He is willing to play the organ at church on a seconds notice. He also looks for people to sit with who are alone or appear confused or shy.  People feel safe around him.  He serves like the Savior would serve. He is also very thoughtful.  He did a pile of dishes today after our district meeting and lunch.   (Good job, Mom!)

 

May your family always be blessed by the sacrifice you are making to keep him here and live without him there.  As you know a mission is hard work physically, emotionally and spiritually.  He is a very fine young man with such a bright future.    (pics attached)

 

Sincerely,

Sister Allen

Sr. Couple in KK

Hi Mom and Dad,

President Mains called yesterday afternoon and asked me to be an AP, so tomorrow I'm moving to Singapore.  He gave me permission to email you today and let you know.  I'm excited, but it feels a bit weird to be leaving here after only 6 weeks.