October 21, 2010

Hey Daddy.
Thanks for the email.
I love you too.
I'm still in Sibu and the conference here has been fantastic, as usual. Yesterday we didn't have our P-Day, and today we didn't have Pday either but training finished at 6pm so we all headed to the mall to do some emails. It sounds like the weather is great in Boise. Fall is creeping in slowly but surely. I think of Fall and cold and I get trunked out of my mind, best not think about it... Kristin's bring a boy home for thanksgiving eh? right on. Just hold off a little Kristin, what will everyone think of me if I have TWO younger sisters married before me. so embarrassing....(haha she's gonna be ticked at me for writing that)
the bus ride down to Sibu was great. Oh man it was so nice to sleep. They played Jet Li movies all the way down. Rock on. Although I found myself staring out the window for half the movie. I use to love scary movies and stuff but now I can't handle it. They weren't even scary, just instense and I couldn't watch. so pathetic.
These trainings really are so great, they make me realize EVERYTHING I am doing wrong and that I need to be doing everything so much better, in all aspects of missionary work. I hope there is a little forgiveness in heaven for the things I lack. Sometimes I wonder if people end up refusing our message simply because I didn't present it right or didn't take the time to find out their real concerns. Luckily we have this training to help us become better. It's been an inspiring week full of great discussions, lots and LOTS of role play, and shared experiences.
I just got a call from some of our investigators while sitting her in this internet shop. We are teaching a group of about 6 bachelors (age about 16-24) and they just called. They asked, "Sister! you come back yet?" "sister! when you come back?" "What you doing now?" "sister have you already eaten?" they're great. I miss them and it's not even been a week.
Anyway. President always makes a power point for his training and this time around he decided to insert excerpts from various missionaries' Presidents Letters, to share some experiences that help explain concepts. In my Presidents letters, I just copy and paste what I write email home to you all, minus all the gentile comments of course. I can't waste time writing President his very own email! Just kidding....but really. Anyway, I think he had taken a piece of almost every one of my letters from the past 2 months and put it on the power point. You know how I write, It's conversational, it's sarcastic occasionally, and so reading them in front of everyone (yes, he had me stand up and read them each as they appeared throughout the training) was kind of embarrassing. However, it was really cool for me to see all the different things that I had written about, all the little miracles. They are so easy to forget! It's so easy to forget all the awesome things that happen and to think, "have I done anything?? have I accomplished anything?" So that was a nice little reminder.
I have yet to listen to Conference in English, I don't know what I'll get the chance, I got a little out of it while listening in Malay but not much. But, president had a talk with us today about the reaction in the US regarding Elder Packard's talk. I was shocked as President Clark talked of the protesting and the disagreeing voices, even among members! President said some were leaving the church because of it and saying Elder Packard needed to retract his statements. How can this be! I was so upset as he was telling us. Isn't the fact that Elder Packard is a prophet seer and revelator good enough? This talk truly is shaking the flakes from the trees. All those who are upset of angry at the talk, do they even have a testimony at all? This is a fight against Satan and the cowards and the weak have made themselves known. I wonder if, no, I'm sure that Elder Packard knew what the reaction was going to be from his talk yet he did it anyway. True love casteth out all fear right? This apostle truly loves the Savior because he is fearless. Man, I'm so upset right now. I love the apostles and prophet, I support them in everything they say, what they say is what God says. What a world we live in... I'm glad I'm in Malaysia, where all I have to think about is being a representative of Jesus Christ. What a simple life Mission life is.
Love you all!
Miss you all!
sister viehweg