We were at the bus depot in Georgetown the other day and had some time to kill waiting for our next appointment, so we decided to just blitz the whole station and talk to as many people as possible. After talking to a few people, I sat down next to an older gentlemen who turned out to be from Japan. His English was not so good. His Malay also not so good. He retired here because it's cheaper than Japan and he lives up in fancy fancy Batu Ferringhi. I spoke the few Japanese phrases that I know and broke the ice a little bit. Maybe a bit too much though....he told me I was oishi (delicious) and tried to bite my arm. Sister Song saw from the next bench over and I could see the look of panic on her face. Turns out he's not so interested in God. Oh well, I tried.
Sister Song had to go into Singapore for a couple days, so I'm staying with the senior couple here in Penang in their sweet condo. Stunning views of the ocean. It was a peaceful personal study indeed this morning out in the open-air living room.
Such a hard life... Anyway, the second we dropped Sister Song off at the airport last night I felt like I was in a vacuum. So weird to be companion-less! I keep feeling like I need to go run around and find her because she must be lost. I don't like the feeling. That might be a hard one to overcome in a few months. I love Sister Song so much. We had such a cool experience this past week while reading the Book of Mormon together. We had just gotten to Jacob 5. Now in the past I have dreaded this chapter, but I just studied it about a month or so ago and fell in love with it. Sister Song was feeling the same way I used to but I promised her we'd spend as much time as we needed to understand it and I'd try to explain some things that I've learned. She started reading in her annoyed voice (I know it well...) but by about verse 47 it had all melted away and I saw she had tears in her eyes as she read, "Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?" She looked up at me and said, "Sister, He loves His trees so much!" I couldn't help laugh because she was crying and the way she said it was just so pathetic, but it was such a sweet moment. We were both in tears in verse 75 when we read the Master's words, "...he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard." It made us both agree that we want to be those servants who He can look on and say "Blessed art thou." I love Jacob 5! It's such an incredible insight into the Saviour's long-suffering and diligence to bring us home.
Sunday was a bust, no one that we're teaching came to church this week. Still having some problems in the branch and after seven months here I still don't know how to fix it.
We taught MS last Friday and again a few days ago. He drank tea again! Apooo. So his baptism is pushed back to 12 May. He's doing ok though. While teaching him about tithing (which he willingly committed to pay) we asked him to think of some things that God has given to him. He said, "the opportunity to repent." He's 16! Such a mature answer.
Since the elders are still not back in Penang, we've still been watching over their investigators. We had an amazing lesson with one of them last Sunday. I wish he was ours forever!
We met with one of our new investigators on Sunday and talked a little about the purpose of life and baptism. She wants to learn from us so badly, but when it comes to converting to Christianity, she says, "God made me Indian, so I can't not be Hindu." Uhhh ok, "So if you found out that these things that we're teaching you are true and felt that God would want you to be baptized and follow Jesus Christ, would you do that?" "No, I'm Hindu." Apoooo, woman! Culture getting confused as religion is a real problem here sometimes. We had a second repeat that same day when we met with two Buddhist teenagers. They rehearsed a nice spiel I'm sure they're heard their parents say a million times: "We are Buddhist but we believe in all gods and all religions, so it's no problem to learn, it's good to know. But we don't get too serious on religion." Sister Song had some bold questions for them that ended up with them admitting they don't really know anything about Buddhism either. Again...culture, not religion. So difficult. I'm praying for patience :)
And then there's our dear B...(apparently I'm still not going to use their full names), who is Buddhist but is totally willing to follow Christ because he feels good when he prays and wants more of that feeling. He called us distraught a few nights ago because he told his parents (who are in Nepal....and he's 24....) that he was going to be baptized and they flipped out. His mom started crying. So now the poor guy doesn't know what to do. We're still going to be meeting with him though. There's got to be a way.
We met with H again also, he's so good! He has such well-thought-out questions for us. It's good to know some people listen and are involved when we teach. He still hasn't accepted the invitation to be baptized yet, but we're getting there.
I was reading the Book of Mormon this morning and wanted to share one of my favourite promises in scripture. (I've been focusing on things that are promised to us if we do certain things...whether good or bad). It's in Mosiah 4:11-12. So we're told that we should always remember that God is great and we're nothing, but he's still so good and patient to us even though we're nothing, humble ourselves by remembering that and call on Him daily in sincere prayer, stand steadfastly in our faith, and then we get this in return ... "ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." It's so good! I love that. We can always rejoice if we just remember God and our relationship with Him, plus we can keep learning more about Him and everything that He is. I know that that will fill us with His love.
I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! Good luck with Women's Conference, mommy!!
Sayang daripada
Sister Norton
HFI
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