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
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