Apa khabar semua orang! Week four here and I have five days left here in Provo which is crazy to think about. Next time I email yall, I'll be in Kuala Lumpur after 30+ hours of traveling, so crazy. Don't really have much to say honestly, (cap) another week of classes, devotionals, fulfilling zone leader duties, meeting with new districts, helping lead Elders Quorum, studying, practicing Malay, praying, hoping, reading, laughing with this amazing district and group of guys who I'm so blessed to be around every single day.
Honestly, I have no idea what to really yap about this time, so I want to shed more light on the makeup and layout of this mission because I love talking about it and I'm also a big geography nerd and just so happen to know a lot about Malaysia and Singapore. Every passing day I learn more and more about Malaysia and its rich culture. It's actually crazy this mission isn't called the Malaysia mission or even the Singapore/Malaysia mission at the very least. Since I've been called to speak Malay, I will actually spend way more time in Malaysia particularly east Malaysia than Singapore. There's a reason why I have the Malaysia flag in front of the Singapore flag in my mission pictures and all my missionary pictures actually, and in my right hand, as well, in other missionary pics. I feel a way greater deal of responsibility for the average eastern Malaysian living paycheck to paycheck, feeling lost and unsure than an on average more successful and comfortable financially-set person in Singapore because i know that this gospel is priceless and will help the meek and the humble as well as anyone who seeks it out and whoever the Lord puts in my path. East Malaysia (the eastern island part of the country also known as Borneo Malaysia because it's on the island of Borneo) and then west Malaysia (which is connected to Singapore, but west Malaysia is still totally a separate country than Singapore). Funny enough, east Malaysia is an ENTIRELY different place than west Malaysia in every way. (Still same country though, west and east Malaysia). Languages spoken predominantly, culture, religious makeup, daily life, cities, terrain, celebrations, food a little bit, literally everything it's so fire. East Malaysia is total third world, and they actually speak local dialects like Iban and the Iban people are like the native Malaysians there. So, I'll have to learn some Iban and Iban sounds a little like Tagalog (Bishop Divine Is gonna need to fact check me on this lol). It's actually wild. The Iban people typically live in literal villages (called kampungs which literally means village in Malay) literally in jungles away from everyone. (My fault said literally way too much there). It's been so cool learning about the Iban people and hearing my teacher speak some Iban. They are super family oriented and don't need much to get by, super humble people and from what I've heard they are so much fun with the way they talk they like yell. It's hilarious and their slang is awesome. As for West Malaysia (or peninsular Malaysia) it's a lot more urban and westernized and a lot more Chinese people and Indian people live in west Malaysia. There are way more people in west Malaysia in general and west Malaysia would be the place you would see if you were to look up Malaysia in any form of media. SE Asia is just so tuff, it's so diverse and different from my typical Overland Park, Kansas, and Mckinney, Texas hometown😂 Can't wait to experience it firsthand here in literally a week. I say all this to say that I know that God loves ALL of his children and created man in HIS own image.
Sometimes, some of us, we live in our American bubble and think in one too, not realizing from time to time the blessings of living and residing in the greatest country in the history of humankind. I know that the Lord has set apart this great land for the second coming and for his saints to inhabit this land and build up Zion. I know the ancient inhabitants of the Book of Mormon lived here in the Americas and that the Book of Mormon was meant to come to pass in a small, little clearing in Palmyra, New York, for a 22-year-old man to find golden plates 1400 years later from the abridgement of an ancient prophet(s). None of this just happened by chance. There's literally no way. God's hand is in EVERYTHING and NO MAN can still/stop his hand, church and work here on the face of the earth today. This church is the fastest growing church in the world for a reason and that's no coincidence either. I can't wait to help do the Lord's will and be on his errand and help assist his church in coming forth amongst ALL nations, peoples, kindreds, and tongues in the most diverse and fastest growing mission field possible.
"Hope of Israel, Zion’s army, Children of the promised day, See, the Chieftain signals onward, And the battles in array!"
"Hope of Israel, rise in might with the sword of truth and right; Sound the war-cry, “Watch and pray!” VANQUISH EVERY FOE TODAY"
Best, Elder Isaac George Barlow🇲🇾🇸🇬
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