Walk With Jesus, Dude: Singing My Way Across Malaysia

Man, I just want to share with you how happy I am, because I am! I know last weeks letter was a bit of a downer, and I'm sorry, I wanted to be honest, mostly because I really wanted and needed the prayers. Haha, Really needed them. ...And I still do, so they're very appreciated. I don't know how to describe it, but it seems that in the times of greatest darkness there is also the greatest light. Almost as if when the darkness grows thicker around the light becomes more and more brilliant, distinct, and beautiful. It's like what Elder Holland has said "You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life." And again President Monson said, "Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty." Now, I'm not saying that this is the most miserable experience of my life, because it's not. It's hard, but it's good, mostly because of those beautiful, peaceful, spiritual experiences that can come into our lives in the hard times, if we so chose to bring the light with us into the darkness. I love what Nana said to me today, that when we focus on the Savior joy will flood our lives! I feel that this week I've really figured out what President Nelson said in conference along with many others: the circumstances, while maybe heart wrenching and demoralizing, are only half of the picture. We can be happy in every circumstance! The hard part is probably keeping our focus where it needs to be to have the hope to be happy, but even that's not so hard when you think about it. This week I've found my joy in singing. We walk a lot to get around and often times talking is not an option for one reason or another, so I do the best thing there is to do: I sing! It's reminded me of... oh I wish I could remember her name.... one of our ancestors who sung her way accross the plains and got rides on other's wagons out of it. I'm singing my way across Malaysia and getting rides on the backs of angels as I go. The joy of the gospel is real! And it is never ending!

For the most part things got a lot better in the companionship! AND we got three new awesome investigators! Yay! They are amazing and humble people. Each one of them, when we shared about the great Apostasy that happened after Christ's and the apostle's death, shared how they were so confused by all of the different teachings of the different churches. It was a great opportunity to share that that's because of some truths that were lost but have now been restored! I love teaching.

We've also been meeting with a lot of members! We've had a little extra time on our hands so we've taken the opportunity for me to get to know members better! It's great. I think they really feel our love when we meet just to get to know who they are, what they love, what they struggle with, how they met their wife, and anything else I can think of to ask them. We laugh, we cry, and sometimes I dance to make them laugh a little more. We then share a short spiritual though to encourage them and help them see the light in whatever darkness surounds them. I LOVE these people. They are my family.

The mission is winding down now, it's true. I'm excited and sad. This has been the hardest, most dirty, sweaty, tiring, heart wrenching, year and a half of my life - without doubt. Yet, somehow, beautifully, and in a way only God can make it, it has been more than hard. It's been amazing, and still is. It's been the most beautiful, blessed, happy, joyful, light-filled, sweet, loved, loving, thankful, peaceful, understanding filled year and a half of my life.

They say that a mission is a sacrifice, then why is it I feel more indebted to God now than I ever have before?

That's all I have time for today! The taxi is here to take us to the airport for Zone Conference in Singapore. I love you all lots, I love my companion, I love God, and - yes- I love love.

I'm so thankful for everyone's emails today! Sorry I'm a hypocrite and didn't respond, but you all know how much it means to me.

I LOVE YOU!