What a great letter dad! Filled with so much news. I love fall. I forgot Halloween was on Sunday. Did everyone dress up? Was it cold? I bet it was just a little bit cold wasn't it; like cold enough to wear a sweater. The world still gets cold like that right?
Right now I feel so so exhausted. I've been sporting the flu this week and it's been a joy. Last Satuday we had an appointment cancel because they said they had the flu; I distinctly remember saying to sister Wong, "how can anyone get the flu or a cold here? It's so hot!" The very next morning, bam, I got the flu. I should have knocked on wood. So that has made me quite tired, but on top of that we decided to bike to Brunei today for P-day. Brunei is the intensely Muslim and insanely rich tiny country just north of us. We did'nt actually enter Brunei though. The purpose of our journey was to hit up a crocodile farm up that way. Only 15 minutes more though and we could have been in Brunei. It was about an hour and a half bike ride there, which really isn't that long, but with the flu it really took it out of me. I wasn't about to miss out on the party though, all 12 of the Miri missionaries were going. We biked along the coastline the whole way there, I wanted to jump in that water so bad. It was a lot of fun, the zoo was pretty pathetic though.
Many many wonderful things have happened this week. I can't believe how fast the weeks are flying by. Yesterday was already my 14 month birthday. It's flying because I love this area, my companion is literally the best, (I feel like she is training me), and our investigators seriously rock right now. Everything went smoothly with the baptism last week. It was superb. We bought ties and white shirts for Diki, Dewa and Jackson since they didn't have any and were going to be baptized. They didn't have anything to wear to their baptism. We showed up at their house a couple hours before the baptism and gave them their gifts. They were excited, but not one of them knew how to tie and neck-tie. We had a little seminar were I showed them how to tie it. It was hysterical. I had the three of them practicing, and then their three Malay roommates came out and wanted to learn too. They were all terrible at it. I was laughing so hard, I hope that didn't make them feel bad, I don't think it did. They looked great at their baptism, wearing the ties I tied for them (they never did quite learn). I don't even know where I learned how to tie one since I never wear them, probably some friend at college taught me.
Last night, Tuesday night, we met them all again and had a great lesson about missionary work. These boys are very very very very very shy and it's like pulling teeth to get them to answer a questions. I don't know what changed but last night they actually talked! We actually had an ideal lesson where we talked 50% of the time and they talked 50% of the time. We asked them how they felt after they had been baptized and at first they just stared at the ground, like always. Then we had the inspired idea to have the two members with us share how this church has helped them first. After that they all started sharing. Diki talked about when we first started learning. Diki was the first one who really took an interest and he said at first, all his friends made fun of him for not wanting to drink or smoke with them anymore. "But now look," he said, "they're all following me to church now." Which is true. After Diki started coming Dewa came, then Jackson, then Baru, Pendi, Jonah, Hero. They all started following. And now none of them want to smoke or drink. It's great.
Jonah, Diki's friend, came to church for the first time last week. We have been trying to get him to come to church for a while. He always says he will come, but then Sunday rolls around and he goes fishing. Finally this Sunday he came. He came mainly to support his 3 friends who were be confirmed, but church ended up having an intense affect on him. When we met him last night he said after going to church just once, he no longer wanted to smoke, he no longer wanted to drink, he had Zero desire! It was amazing. I think this is the first time I have had an investigator change so significantly after just one church attendance. This church is so true. Jonah is now on date to be baptized at the end of the month.
Bonnie had his baptismal interview yesterday and passed. He is so so excited to be baptized Saturday. I don't think I have had an investigator and grateful as Bonnie. Every time we teach him he expresses the gratitude of his heart. He is so happy. A few weeks ago we were struggling with being able to help him quit smoking. He just couldn't cut the habit. Whenever we met him he would say he had smoked again "but just one stick!" His excuse was, "saya perlu buang air besar" which literally translated means "I needed to throw big water" (aka I had to poo). After he said that I just stared at him, not really following. "so you had to go to the bathroom..... and so you smoked....soooo I'm not seeing the connection here! Get a flippin magazine!" I still don't really get it but to him, it seemed like a legitimate excuse. Anyway, he has been clean for two weeks now and is still going strong. Last night after his interview I asked him what helped him stop smoking and he said he just thought one day "If I want to do this, I need to really do this" And then he stopped. The mind and spirit are so powerful, the body is weak; the desire just needs to be there.
The great thing about Bonnie is he is instensely excited about sharing the gospel with his family and friends. His father is so cute. His father loves us; and he loves the Book of Mormon, his father knows the Book of Mormon is true. But you see, his father has already been baptized so therefore, no need.... wrong. We're working on him. Bonnie's mom and dad love us so much because of how we have helped their son. They have definitely seen the change.
We are still on the hunt to find women and girls to teach. We aren't having much luck. More and more men are entering the church but without women, they aren't staying very long. Where are all the GIRLS? They are hiding somewhere.
But ya, the work keeps chugging along in Miri. The missionaries here as so much fun, which makes the work so much fun. We have big plans for thanksgiving, we are saving our Ringgit to go to the big turkey dinner buffet at the Marriott at the end of the month.
Kids still point out the largeness of my nose and thighs but I seem to love them anyway haha. The people are good to us here. It's going to be wierd to go home and not have every guy we pass on the street yell "I love you!" - I believe it's the only phrase they know in English. It's done worlds for my self esteem haha.
Love you guys
keep the letters coming
Sister Viehweg
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