Week 10 - August 25, 2025

 A lot happened this week, lot of highs and lows. I'll walk yall through it.

Monday- after p-day ended, the Elders from Bintulu came up and I got to see and meet up with my guy Elder Boseman who's my district leader here for Miritulu (Miri and Bintulu). We had a fun ministering night with some members and Elder Boseman got to see some members who he used to teach literally like 22-23 months ago because he started his mission in Miri as well, which was so cool to see him be so happy around people he hasn't seen in forever, as well as hearing from one of the members that of course his Malay was very little when he started and knew no Iban (like me, same place, same situation with language) and now here he was speaking Iban with them and understanding every word they said. Gave me a lot of motivation to continue to wait on the Lord's timing and continue to work hard at my Malay first and then focus on Iban later in my mission. We shared a quick message with them, and I shared Isaiah 55:8-9 in Malay which has quickly become my favorite scripture.

Scripture from Pres. and Sister Ho

Tuesday- did my second part of the exchange with my boy Elder Overly, who was in my MTC district which was so much fun. Now our 2nd time serving together, once in Bintulu, and now once in Miri. Love it. It was a good day and since this was my area, I took the both of us into a Kampung and I was able to get a number from a lady all in Malay which was so awesome.

Wednesday- AP's (assistant to the president, for those of you who don't know) flew in Tuesday night and me and Elder Bartholomew went to work together on another exchange (back to back exchanges, wild) (and yes I was stressing big time lol, I had to lock in like crazy😭) but I soon realized dude was such a chiller, which was so fire, he was awesome and of course he got us like 5 new friends that day, he was pushing me hard but he told me he didn't need to wait up for me at all and that I wasn't slowing him down.  He complimented me a lot and we had a lot of deep conversations about why we're serving, and I told him a lot about myself and my family and my goals and who I'm doing this for, and he did likewise too, it was so awesome. 

Me and Elder Bartholomew at a lesson.

At the end of the night after teaching a family from Nigeria on video call (in English too, so you already know I cooked) living in Kuala Lumpur because you know APs get to teach the golden families, we had about 30 minutes left and it was literally raining sideways so I'm like, "Oh, bet nights over we can wait out the rain and then bike home at 9:30 and be done." Of course, this man Elder Bartholomew turns to me and is like, "Let's go do some bike finding," with the biggest smile on his face, dude was eaaaager to bike in the rain and I'm not even gonna lie.  I literally said like, "Dude, there's no way" right to the APs face😭 but as soon as we stepped outside the rain had died down a ton, so we did the bike finding and right at the buzzer, it's like 9:28 ish probably and this is our last person who we barely got to come outside and we were able to get his number. It was honestly a miracle!  It was so wild. I said to myself after I'm like, "That's why this man is AP, because he has consecrated himself to give ALL his heart, might, mind and strength to the Lord even until the very last minute or door and then AFTER our trial of faith we saw a miracle."  I learned a very very important lesson about the work through Elder Bart that night. Later that night he gave me some invitations, said a prayer, blessed me and my family in it, and left the next morning. 

Honestly, this email is incredibly long and I'm starving.  Me and Elder Randall are boutta go get some food as I'm writing this so:

Thursday-Sunday was a blur and a jumble of a ton of dropped lessons, disappointing finding, very hot and humid weather, a couple lessons here and there with members, finding in the literal jungle, getting absolutely demolished by mosquitos and dense forest vegetation, biking the Le Mans on like forest back trails which were crazy bumpy with like mud and massive puddles, jaggedy bouldered trails also, was dissapointed by my Malay, and honestly was just not feeling it mentally. Was hard to do pretty much everything to be honest, but I did it and it's onto the next week. Some weeks are gonna be like that, really good at first and 2nd half of the week just not great, or vice versa, and I'm coming to learn that. I have a week and a half left in the transfer so looking to finish it out strong. Could share a lot of different spiritual thoughts but this email is already way too long😂 hope y'all are all good back home.  I miss pizza (there is Pizza Hut here and Dominos, but they don't use tomato sauce at all🥲) and my Baja blasts of course, but this work is so awesome and if this is the hardest the mission can offer me in terms of language, culture, area then its only up from here. None of that will really change, I'll only become stronger through Jesus Christ's grace and power. 

Me eating a kampung fish

-Elder Barlow

Week 9 - August 17, 2025

 What an amazing week here in the amazing state of Sarawak and country of Malaysia. This last week was by far and away thee most fun and fulfilling week as a missionary yet. I'll go day by day as we had Zone Conference in Kuching which was so so awesome getting to see all my guys from my MTC district.

Tuesday, August 12th -day before flying to Kuching we had a full day in Miri, and it rained so hard on us😂.  We did a lot of finding and biking in the rain and of course faced a lot of rejection as per usual. Also, unfortunately had to kick a dog in the face as I was biking in the kampung when this one dog was chasing after me😅 We went to this one member's house and their house is in a ditch, so when it rained, the entire walkway and area just floods. Was literally wading through knee high water just to make it up to this families' home. It was awesome too because unfortunately this woman in the family is going through a lot of challenges, so I think them seeing our effort just to share our message about how families can live together forever really made her and her family feel better. The members here in Miri are seriously the best. Just the people in general, even if they are Malayu (which means legally they're Muslim even if they don't practice Islam and so we can't teach them anything) or if they're Kayan (one of the many many races here in East Malaysia) and of course the beloved Iban people with their Iban language. I love all of them so much and so happy I've started my mission here in Sarawak (or East Malaysia in general) the state here in East Malaysia where Iban people reside, and getting to be around strong members 9,000 miles away from home is so faith inspiring.

One thing that is so awesome too when finding is, it is a completely normal and acceptable thing to ask someone what their race is here in Malaysia, which I think is so cool and funny at the same time. You can ask "Kamu bangsa apa?" And they won't look at you weird or anything😂

Wednesday- had a couple lessons at the start of the day and then flew to Kuching and got there around 8:30 at night. I stayed in Kota Samarahan which is a district in Kuching, with seven other Elders in one house for Zone Conference!

Thursday-Friday Zone Conference- Got to the church and soon met a ton of new missionaries I've never met before which are all serving in all different parts throughout East Malaysia. Love serving in such a big mission with so many differing and varying areas and each area is different, it's awesome. Met a lot of guys that were leaving and some that have been out a year, talked to one guy who just left Miri and was now in Sibu.  He asked me how the members were doing which he used to teach, and it was cool to let him know that Miri is continuing to grow and prosper under the hand and watch of the Lord. I'm so blessed to see the Lord extend his arm to the people he has prepared here in Miri through me and Elder Randall, truly special wearing this badge. 

All throughout Zone Conference, we received training and guidance from our mission presidents, Sister and President Ho. They're the best. And best of all, got to see Elder Stevens, man that is my guy.  We hugged so hard, and we found out we are the only missionaries pretty much throughout the entire mission of 100-ish missionaries that wear this one certain clip badge that clips onto our collar. Everyone else wears a magnet or this one shelf badge for their badges and we both told each other every single morning when we both use our clip badges, we think of each other which was so crazy when we both said that. Even though he's all the way in Kuching and were super far, this is already such a strong connection I've made and I'm so grateful that the Lord has brought us together as well as Elder Annison and all my other boys from the MTC. Laughing and joking with them, already a highlight of the mission. 

Saturday and Sunday- We flew back to Miri and just went to work. I had so much more motivation and a better mindset to not take for granted my time here in Miri. My confidence soared as the Lord continues to guide me and make me a better missionary as I continue to trust in his plan and timing. I'm starting to talk more in Malay during finding and in lessons as well. 

As I am writing this, it is P-day and Monday morning, and I have 626 days left as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These last 2 and a half months and these next 20 months will continue to shape my life and I'm so grateful to be out here. My desire to be out here grows by the day and at the end of most days, I feel true fulfilling happiness, more happiness than I could ever feel from hitting arms at my gym back home in Kansas, or going to high school, or driving with music and a Baja blast to sip on or washing cars as fun and relaxing and fulfilling as I thought that was. I testify the only way to feel true, everlasting happiness is only through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. HE LIVES. 

Rejoice, the Lord Is King!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/music-from-april-2017-general-conference/2017-04-rejoice-the-lord-is-king?lang=eng

Sampai minggu depan, Elder Barlow

Week 8 - August 10, 2024

 Hello, everyone!  This week was really good, and by far my fastest week as a missionary as well. To start off the week, me and Elder Randall did exchanges in Bintulu for 3 days which was great, definitely saw the Lord's hand that first day as I served alongside with Elder Overly which was fun because we were in the MTC together, it was good to see him again. The 2nd day was with my district leader Elder Boseman who's been out 23 months, so his Malay and Iban are really really good. We had multiple member meals and did a lot of eating and there was a LOT of Iban being spoken. I'm able to understand a decent amount of Malay but still no Iban. 

Then me and Elder Randall left Bintulu and we got back to Miri. The 3-hour bus ride to Bintulu and back is so sketch because it's just straight forest and crazy bumpy roads. I was trying to read a book during the bus ride and I couldn't even focus on the screen because of the shakiness of the bus😂 Me and Randall had a lot of work to catch up on when we got back and this last weekend was a lot of finding, church meetings, biking, lessons. Just the usual work, I'm getting a lot more settled in which is great though, and this upcoming week we get to fly to have Zone Conference in Kuching, which will be super fun, cause I'll get to see all my boys from the MTC there and learn and grow a ton. Can't wait!

One verse that has really helped me here that I always read is Isaiah 55:8-9. It reminds me daily of the Lord's plan and what he has in store for me and all the possibilities my mission could go and the people I'll meet and the places I'll be throughout, west and east Malaysia and Singapore as well. For me, I really was hoping to have an easier start to my mission in west Malaysia or Singapore (less culture shock, a ton of English especially in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, wouldn't have to bike) but clearly at the time I didn't realize that it doesn't matter what I wanted.  I always knew I was going foreign on my mission, just had no idea where, and of course the Lord is amazing at surprises, everything about this place is unfamiliar especially Miri of course, but stuff like the food, and the great companions and the fact that I've been given a biking mission are things I'm also grateful to see.  The Lord has picked out a perfect mission for me to flourish in,

and it has pushed me so hard.  I know that he wants me here in Miri because he has a way bigger plan and job for me later on. He needs me to be humbled and become more than I ever thought I could be, he needs me to rely on him.  All these things are for my good I've seen.

"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.  The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (Words from the Lord to the prophet Joseph Smith while being wrongfully persecuted and locked up in jail)

I invite you all to read this talk from one of our church leaders as well, (this email is really long--my fault.)

All Things for Our Good        Best, Elder Barlow

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/25gong?lang=eng

Week 7 - August 3, 2025

 Hello, everyone!  A hard and fulfilling week one in the field is done--all thanks to the Lord for getting me through this week, every day is a grind but it's already so fulfilling.  Every day is filled with long bike rides in 105-degree heat, walking in wooden stilt kampungs (villages) sitting on the floor and eating and drinking all the food, snacks, and differing beverages that these amazing members give us.  The cultural norm here is "makan habis" and "minum habis" which both mean eat finish and drink finish in Malay.  So, anything the members give us we have to eat all of it and then bike from place to place with very full stomachs😂 love it.  This whole last week was in a trio but now that Elder Day is gone and finished his mission, it's just me and Elder Randall here in Miri.  Which is now forcing me to step up and contribute in lessons, which is great because now my Malay is about to skyrocket.  I'll share two miracles I saw here just in the last week.

We went over to this one member's home, and they love having us over and are also recent converts as well.  We went over to their house, and she said her wrist was really hurting and throbbing, but she still wanted to hear our lesson.  Mid-lesson as I was zoning off admittedly because I couldn't understand much of the Iban from the members, Elder Day gave me the look to then share my part in the lesson, and I was not ready at all and had completely forgot what the lesson was all about! (rookie mistakes) Just as I was trying to think of what to say, one of the kids sitting right next to the mom whose wrist was hurting started laughing uncontrollably probably due to the face I gave Elder Day when I had no idea what to say.  I stumbled through my delivery and now everyone was laughing at me, and I definitely felt embarrassed but didn't show it as much as I usually would.  The mom then exclaims with joy to Elder Day that her wrist, out of nowhere, felt better and said that she needed that laugh for the day she was having.  Even through my poor malady, the Lord is able to help others.  Small and simple things indeed.

I'll make this one quick because I don't want this to be too long but just last night on Sunday night for me, Sunday morning for y'all, we had been biking for a really long time, and it was absolutely pouring, and we were also fasting and had little success with finding that day as well.  Of course, I was super discouraged but didn't lose hope as we pulled under a bus stop to get out of the rain because we still had one video call lesson, and we literally had to use our bike light to illuminate us.  Through hunger, being soaking wet (because I didn't have my rain jacket on me) dirty pants, wet socks, hair slicked back and showing off my massive forehead, I closed the lesson to this man about Jesus Christ's atonement and how important it is to us and how it's the most amazing gift that has ever been given to mankind.  The absolute second I finished my sentence I was filled with the Holy Ghost so strong and heard a still small voice say, "Good job, son."  There's no denying it and I no longer felt any discouragement and biked so fast the rest of the way home after the lesson. 

 

 

This was a long one, but I thought I'd share those two times seeing the Lord's love and help.  This work is so important and going through the growing pains of the training isn't the most fun and definitely uncomfortable, but it'll be so worth it.  Love you all.  If you read this far, you're the best.   Jumpa lagi- Elder Barlow