Week 19 - October 27, 2025

 IGB in the big JB🫡

Solid, solid week here in Johor Bahru🤘🏻🇲🇾💎 definitely feeling a lot better and more settled in. Starting to learn the area, learning how to find in English (which sounds so funny but is so true haha, genuinely could not find in English even in Miri too when we would rarely have some contacts in English) biking up and down all the big hills here. Getting closer with Elder Huish and Elder Gabbitas, as well. We've also been experiencing a lot of success with the Lord's work here and we have a lot of On Dates and our friends. Continuing to strengthen a lot of our recent converts here, too. Loving my time here in JB a lot. Already know this is gonna feel like a pretty quick transfer for sure😂 Zone conference in Kuala Lumpur is already a week away.

Every single day is filled with a lot of public contacting, biking, a lot of contacting on our phones, confirming appointments, calls, lessons. meeting people from all over Asia as well which is so awesome. Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh (can't teach them though) Pakistan (also can't teach them) and a ton of people from India, as well as of course China and Chinese people in general. Malaysia is really thee most diverse country in the world. It's so cool. I wasn't too big on diversity in general before my mission, I'm gonna be honest. I would always label people and kinda judge a lot based off things that now to me don't matter after seeing more of God's children in the world. Out of the many many reasons on how I know the Lord himself handpicked this great country for me is the diversity aspect of all the people here. It's giving me a way greater appreciation of all of God's children and how we all really are the same. Whether it's the Chinese uncles, the Muslim people, a lot of Burmese and Filipinos here as well. Native Malaysians. Just so cool to realize that God knows each and every single one of these people so individually and personally. I thank the Lord every day for sending me here. Yes, there was culture shock. Yes, maybe the language was hard for a month and there are still sometimes some languages barriers with so many languages here. But besides all that, man what a mission this has been. I hit 3 months in field today and am coming up on 5 months as a missionary‼️ Still, none of this feels real truly.

Our branch president here is so chill, too. He took us around Thursday morning in his car, and we tried to meet with less inactive members throughout Johor Bahru. They all fell through, but in the car, he was playing some Eric Clapper, Marty Robbins, and just great old school rock and country. Man driving around JB listening to music just took me back and I thoroughly enjoyed that hour and a half. Reminded me of the fun I had before my mission just chilling in my car listening to music. Good times. Anyways, President Kurup also taught church history for a long time so one day when he randomly asked me if I knew who Israel Barlow was, I was so shocked😂😂. So random but so cool. His son is super cool, too. He hangs out with us on P-days and he also just put his papers in for a mission! Super cool. President Kurup and Jaden are some pretty awesome members that are very fun to serve around for sure.

On Thursday, we also did basketball finding. When Elder Huish suggested it, I thought he was joking😂 It turned out to be decently effective. We went pretty late in the day, and we were able to get out like 8-12 invites to church. Of course, we dominated💪🏼😂 Played these three Chinese guys and oh my, I could not miss at first and then started bricking every shot. Unc don't got it😪😪 We won though🫡 had to loosen my shirt and loosen the tie and lock in😂😂 break off the rust😂 One of the most enjoyable days in field I've had yet. Loved it. Afterwards I saw a mural on the side, and it was a mural of Kobe🐍 had to take a picture with it. Reminds me of my dad big time as he is a massive Kobe fan and Lakers fan. Also reminded me to have that Mamba mentality and to just put my head down and work hard. Go hard for these next 550 days. I really do like to remind myself to keep the mentality of jobs not finished, as well. Seeing Kobe just felt like a sign. Keep working, rise early, and continue to press on. Love it. Rest in peace, Kobe Bryant💜💛🐍 

The church building here is super nice, too. It's a shop lot church, so it's built into a shopping lot complex. It's small but still very high quality and gets the job done no question! Excited to be here in JB for a while. JB has so much to offer, and the work here is super rewarding. Hoping I get at least 3 transfers here, for sure. 

Yesterday on Sunday, we caught a bus up to Malacca for our exchanges for today through Wednesday. Spending P-day here in Malacca is cool. Kinda don't like being on exchanges during P-day though not gonna lie. I like being in our area for sure. All good though.  Should be a good couple days here in Malacca with Elder Overly and Elder Png. Me and Elder Overly can't seem to get away from each other, we just keep following each other. From Bintulu and Miri to Melaka and JB.😂

Don't really have a spiritual thought this week. Just appreciating trusting in God's timing and plan for me over this last week. Recognizing my weaknesses, repenting daily, and getting 1 percent better each and every day. Coming home exhausted every single night. It's been really cool to implement everything I learn through experiences and hard times and see growth in myself. 550 days left. I hit 100 days in field this next Sunday. Wild. It goes by so fast and so slow😂 love y'all. Y'all are the best❤️ really appreciate all the emails and support from each and every single one of you. Even if you read all this, thank you❤️

Elder Barlow🇲🇾🇸🇬

Week 18 -October 20, 2025

 Hello, everyone!

Staying in Malaysia‼️ Going from the East to the West‼️ leaving Sarawak. Big city Barlow coming up in Johor Bahru. Man, I'm so pumped to work with Elder Huish and Elder Gabbitas, and yes, I'm in ANOTHER trio😂 (I started my first transfer in Miri in a trio, shoutout Elder Day for those literal-mission saving 8 days crazy clutch haha) then just did this whole last transfer in a trio, and now another trio. Love it so much.

Monday- P-day was fun, went and ate at a nice restaurant in downtown Miri. Went shopping at an Iban store and I got some cool little things for my keychain. For P-night all the Miri missionaries went over to this one member's house and a bunch of members were there as well and we all had a FHE/ministering night. Great food and a great time

Tuesday- the big day. Transfer calls. We were at the church and we had DCM. I was giving a training and President Ho eventually calls in for transfer calls, and man I was so so nervous BUT

I am going to JOHOR BAHRU🇲🇾💎🤘🏼 the capital city of the state Johor at the tip of Peninsular (West) Malaysia. Johor Bahru is right above Singapore. But is a part of Malaysia and is the 4th biggest city in all of Malaysia. The word "Bahru" or "Baru" means "New" in Malay and the word Johor comes from the Arabic word "jauhar" meaning "gem" or "precious stone" in Arabic. so Johor Bahru means New Gem in English🫡💎, and man this city is a New Gem for me no doubt. Only thing is going from East Malaysia (especially Sarawak haha) to West Malaysia is that I'm going to lose my Malay a bit. There's really not a ton of Malay in West Malaysia in general. English is actually a national language of Malaysia as Malaysia used to be governed by Great Britain. So only English and Chinese really. Super super excited when I found out though. Really thought I was staying leading up but also wasn't too far off with my prediction of going to Malacca haha. Always been a city guy and I'll hold myself to my claim of being a West Malaysia/Singapore Missionary as well🫡

Wednesday/Thursday - woke up at 6:00 to take Elder Simonsen to the airport🥲😪 man I'm gonna miss that dude. He finished his mission, so it was just me and Elder Barker for Wednesday and Thursday. Packed Wednesday and Thursday night as well. Gosh I hate packing so much, stresses me out. I get it from my mom for sure😂 did a lot of finding both days and had a ministering night on Wednesday, also absolutely ate it while finding in a kampung and fell through the wooden planks they have to get around in the kampungs. Fell into a bunch of mud and shrubbery. Just laid there for like 20 seconds while Elder Barker tried to help me up😂😂 

Friday- finished up packing Thursday night and left for the airport on Friday morning with Elder Randall and said my goodbyes to Elder Randall and Elder Barker. Lowkey got emotional saying goodbye to Elder Randall. All I know is Elder Randall in the field to be honest. He's 22 so definitely older and he's just felt like a dad to me out here honestly. My first trainer and have been living with him the last 3 months. That's my guy😪 Very hard to say goodbye. Traveled the whole day to Johor Baru. Had a 2-and-a-half-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur from Miri, scrambled to find the bus station in the massive KL airport, barely made it there on time and then a 6 Hour (!!!) bus ride to Johor Bahru from Kuala Lumpur. Got in around 11 PM (which is the time we have to be in bed anyways on our mission. It's a 7 AM to 11 PM Mission.) and just passed out. Of course, getting to meet Elder Huish and Elder Gabbitas was awesome. They're super awesome. Elder Huish actually already served in Miri as well earlier this year, so I caught him up about how Miri was going. Elder Huish has a little under a year left and Elder Gabbitas just got here to the mission last transfer from the MTC. so, this is his now his 2nd transfer and last training transfer. So once again, I am in the middle of both of my companions, experience wise. Learning from Elder Huish and helping and teaching Elder Gabbitas. Massive W.

Saturday- very solid day. Had a service project in the morning and then had a lesson atop this massive apartment and we could see all of Singapore and its skyline in the distance. So awesome. First full day in Johor Bahru and wow the work is a lot different in JB than Miri, I'm realizing😂 That's the thing about this mission.  I basically got transferred to a whole different mission. Different language now, literally wearing the English badge not the Malay one, WAY different area, different companions of course. Different feel in the area. Teaching lessons and actually contacting a lot more. All new changes and new environment, and I'm not gonna lie, it was tough. Work is still generally the same though of course. The missionary grief hit me like a train seeing Elder Simonsen (Brother Simonsen I should say😪) make it home and leaving Elder Barker and Elder Randall was hard mentally. Elder Barker felt like a younger brother and Elder Randall kinda like a dad to me as a trainer and leader to me. I don't know I mean the transition from the MTC to Miri was genuinely impossible haha, this transition has automatically been so much easier but still kinda leaving that pit in my stomach feeling. Only up from here though for sure.

Sunday- Sunday was also tough mentally. Still missing Elder Simonsen a ton. Elder Barker and Elder Randall as well. Was missing the idea of Miri and its typical daily schedule feel. Was definitely missing joking around with Elder Simonsen and Barker and Randall all the time. Love Elder Huish and Elder Gabbitas, but I definitely kinda 3rd wheel them for sure. Takes a little bit for them to get used to me and vice versa because they were together all last transfer. Still going through the transition period as well which, man is just not fun. Just this constant pit in my stomach feeling and high stress. Love writing these emails and just getting my thoughts down though. Doing now just like I did 3 months ago from MTC to Miri. Again, not as bad but dang still really tough. Luckily though the members here are genuinely so awesome. I mean it this time😅 the difference I had just in Saturday to Sunday was very promising just in terms of my mindset and how I was feeling and how I was able to do big city missionary work. Anyways, this is a lot my fault. We had choir practice on Sunday and hung out with the YSA. Once again, we did no finding. So weird haha. I'm definitely not complaining. The days are 100% just picking up so fast already. It's actually wild. They're so fast and I'm not even used to a typical day in Johor Bahru schedule, so I don't even want to think how fast these next two transfers are gonna be like here once I'm familiarized with a typical day haha. 

Spiritual thought⚜️:

I definitely want to share a spiritual thought from one of my personal studies and about this tough transition period, as well as things about last transfer as I reflect.

I think for me the Lord knew moving me from Miri was gonna be tough. But I'm not gonna lie, I was getting WAY too comfortable and way too like "going through the motions" in my last couple weeks in Miri. I was really getting tired of Miri and the work, and it made me bond more to Elder Simonsen and Elder Barker especially that last week. That was a fun week. I was so nervous if I stayed another transfer cause I knew if I stayed in Miri, I would just struggle to find that motivation to keep on pressing on in Miri. I wouldn't be as diligent, and I would just be messing around. But since the Lord is so unbelievably smart and knows literally everything about everything, he has sent me to a place that is literally perfect for me to lock in and humble me and draw me closer to him. He wants to continue to deepen and refine me. Companions, area, change of pace. Language as well now I just speak English to Chinese people. I mean just everything. I know why I was in Miri no doubt. To build my language there and the people placed there and all the challenges there with those DANG bikes😂 and testing my obedience and faith through that. 

And now i know why I'm here. I mean, oh my gosh, he's literally 2/2 folks it's almost like he is directing my paths for my good as I continue to trust in him🙏🏼🙏🏼 ah man he is so great. He knows what's best for me. He's refining me. These last two days no question I got thrown back into the fire. Man, it's not fun AH. Going back to square 1, had really and still have no idea what's really going on but slowly learning and improving. He knew I would go through grief even when he made Elder Simonsen my companion AND Elder Barker before the start of my 2nd transfer. He knew Elder Simonsen and Elder Barker could bring things to help me through a really really hard 2nd transfer and my certain gifts to them. I learned a TON last transfer because of them. I mean it's just crazy to see it all unfold and look back on. That's how i KNOW this is his work. Anyways I could write a little bit more, but this is WAY too long haha. I just need to write all my thoughts down; it helps me a lot going through the missionary grief. Eventually this will fade and I'll start to appreciate those times more as I'm kinda starting to do right now. 

Helaman 12:

1. And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.

2. Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity. 3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

I know that for me, I needed this "trial" or inconvenience you could say to be reminded of another certain verse that REALLY helped me when I first got to the field which is Isaiah 55: 8-9. 

8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As I try to look back in and be humbled again and really truly turn towards the Lord, the Spirit and the Book of Mormon has taught me this very powerful lesson. Sometimes the Lord will have to do some things to chasten his people. I really know I didn't give my all those last two weeks in Miri. I know I didn't and the Lord knows I didn't. So, it's time to maybe have a transfer where I'm not joking around and there JUST for a fun time with friends. The Lord takes and adds people into your life at some points. Maybe this transfer will be one where I really work hard and forget myself and have the Spirit with me more. Everything I just wrote down just flowed from my head. Wasn't really me writing down the stuff under the Sunday section and this spiritual thought. Anyways love y'all. If you read all this, you're the best. The messages and prayers and thoughts continue to mean everything to me. Love y'all. Let us all press on. If we do what is right, we have no need to fear🤘🏼

Job 23:10

Elder Barlow🇸🇬🇲🇾⚜️

Week 17 - October 12, 2025

 🇲🇾Apa khabar semua orang yang sihat dan cantik🤘🏼

🇺🇸Hello all healthy and beautiful people🤘🏼

This week was better, no question. No yelling or any crashouts or angry writing in this email, janji yah. That was Isaac Barlow being prideful and stubborn. Newsflash I'm not perfect (shocker) even when I wear his name, Yesus Kristus, as well as his restored church's name over my heart and chest proudly every single waking second of every single day for the last 127 days. That was not Elder Barlow and I'm sorry. When you become a missionary, you retire your first name for a reason. You represent all Orang Suci (people holy in Malay or saints) You represent that you are an elect son or daughter of God in the zaman akhir (dispensation last in Malay or latter days) You represent your last name, Barlow. A special pioneer-based name from Wales that is of upmost value and importance to me. You represent the Gereja (Church in Malay) as an organization and its immense presence of good in the world and the gospel it rolls out to all nations across the world. Last and CERTAINLY not least, you represent the SAVIOR AND REDEEMER OF THE WORLD, THE GREAT I AM, even Yesus the Kristus. That is why I love being a missionary. I represent all those things, not Isaac. All missionaries and Latter-day Saints do. I'm not special. Lastly, Isaac is a Hebrew name and it means "he laughs" from Hebrew and I need to do that more and recognize the little things more, even when no one calls me Isaac anymore.

 I do truly apologize🙏🏼❤️‍🩹

Maaf yah🫡

Monday- solid P-night, met with an inactive RM (returned missionary) at McDonalds that is from Malaysia and served in this mission five years ago during Covid. He seemed very lost, and you could see in his eyes, he seemed very hopeless and depressed. We talked to him about Malaysian General Conference this weekend (no y'all aren't missing out on some extra general conference, it just means that Malay translation is done for people to hear😂) and the upcoming messages later in the week that we know would help him. Absolutely destroyed a 20-piece and had the Halal Oreo McFlurry ice cream that is awesome here in Malaysia at McDonalds😂 Living in a Muslim country has its perks😂 solid day.

Tuesday- ministering night was fun. Went over to a member's house and taught the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency and his wife and son. They're so awesome. Talked about 2nd Nephi 31:20 and all those verses about getting on the path and staying on it, enduring to the end and such. Solid, solid day.

Wednesday- solid, solid day and ended it on a high note with a member meal with crazy good food filled with all kinds of meat and amazing music playing from the Tabernacle Choir playing on the tv and with super awesome members. Taught about prophets and Malaysian General Conference. Solid day.

Thursday- another solid solid day and ended it off again with a member meal at this super nice restaurant near downtown Miri with the Branch President and his friend. Taught them about repentance. Elder Simonsen paid for everyone, too, since he's going back to the 115th YSA ward in Provo next week😂 He's so awesome and he totally declined me when I offered to pay him back. Gonna miss him a ton. He's Zone Leader 1 for a reason for sure. Elder Simonsen also talked to this one woman all in Chinese and she's going to be coming to church next week🙏🏼 solid solid day.

Friday- did exchanges with Elder Platt and Elder Barker came with me for it. So Elder Platt and Elder Simonsen switched. Did the exchange here in Miri. I've been out the longest between us three, so I led us around in finding and the lesson we had that night. Taught this one older couple about prophets and Malaysian General Conference (yet again😂) talked about how Dallin H. Oaks is our new prophet or will be at least and tried my best in Malay to explain the whole situation about Russel M. Nelson and they can't sustain Dallin H. Oaks yet and all that good stuff and man it felt weird to teach about how we have a living prophet when technically at this current time we don't (yet)😬😂 This is Jesus' church though, jangan takut semua. (Don't be afraid everyone)

Saturday- probably the easiest most chill day I've had the entire mission, woke up, got ready, went to the church, watched morning session with one member in English, quickly went and got lunch and ate, went back watched afternoon session in English, did a comp study, watched evening session in Malay, cleaned up. Went to our finding spot, found for like an hour, and then ended it off with a 1-and-a-half-hour member meal😂 Man, I needed a day like that. Unfortunately, Elder Barker finally broke, I guess, and told us over the last three days he's been secretly battling a lot of illnesses and headaches he's been having. Still a solid day but felt bad for Elder Barker. Dude still didn't complain or pout once and has been having full body tremors supposedly. I mean if that isn't a strong-minded and physically built man, I don't know what is. Inspiring honestly.

Sunday- since Elder Barker went to the hospital on Sunday morning, Elder Simonsen just went with Elder Barker there and then had me go with Elder Platt and Elder Randall to the church for the AM general conference session which a lot of members came for compared to Saturday. Had lunch at the church and then watched PM session, went back home and then since Elder Barker was still absolutely slumped from the meds, and Elder Simonsen was tired from sitting inside all day, he still wanted to go out, so Me, Elder Simonsen, and Elder Platt went out and then Elder Randall stayed home with Elder Barker. Definitely a crazy day, a lot of switching around😂 Finished it off with yet another member meal and a lot of lessons that day from Miri Elders 1. Taught a lesson about testimonies and based it off Elder Brown (or probably known as the Jamaican guy on the internet right now😂) His absolutely awesome amazing talk that will forever be a General Conference classic. All three of us bore our testimonies and I gave mine all in Malay about the trip my dad took me on to Barcelona and how the trip changed my life. When I was done, I felt the Holy Ghost probably the strongest I have all mission. Confirming to me once again how true and real this church is and how real Jesus Christ is. Really really awesome day

Learned a lot this week about a lot of different things and just this last transfer in general. As I reflect on this last transfer, I realized wow it is not a coincidence that my bike didn't break once this week. Just not a coincidence. The other five weeks the Lord was testing and trying my obedience, patience, desire and faith every dang time that dang tire popped. And man, it popped a lot. Man, I walked a lot all the way to our house to the mall to get it fixed. 30-minute walk on the road when the sun is right in our grill, and I'm just dripping sweat. "Will he continue to do my will?" Man, I did it. We did it. Me and Jesus Christ and all my companions and the Holy Ghost. AH. (Job's not finished of course) And seeing how this last week went and NONE of our bikes broke even ONCE, FINALLY, Jesus probably said yes, I'll protect the bikes so thou canst do my work or something like that.  I don't even know for real. HE IS SO GREAT. 

Transfer calls tomorrow..... So so nervous😭😪. My prediction: I think I'm going to Kuching (specifically Kota Samarahan) or Melaka. (Yes, I understand this prediction means nothing, just for fun.  I mean I literally heard an audible voice from the Holy Ghost tell me I was going to Argentina for my mission😂😂) but regardless, if this was the last week here in Miri then jumpa nanti (see ya later) for real🫡. What a special place I've spent a lot of time in and grown so unbelievably much in. Miri has a special place in my heart for sure. If I'm moved to Sabah, West Malaysia or Singapore or if I stay in Sarawak here in Kuching or Sibu, then I'm ready to open a new chapter of my mission and life wherever the Lord wants me🙏🏼

Love you all so so much, you're so awesome if you read all this. The emails and responses and prayers mean the absolute world to me🙏🏼❤️‍🔥

Bersukacita, sekali lagi saya kata bersukacita!⚜️

Rejoice, the Lord Is King!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/music/songs/2025-04-rejoice-the-lord-is-king?lang=eng

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LV2WcTFA31dVmuPc8 

Week 16 - October 5, 2025

 Hello, Everyone!  Another week down here in Miri. One week removed from an awesome week from Singapore Zone Conference and we definitely tried our hardest this week. I'll break it down

Monday: Did some kampung (a kampung is a run-down, dilapidated village basically where primarily Iban people live. Kampung literally means village in Malay) Finding on Monday night. Got yelled at by this one Roman Catholic. Kinda ruined the spirits for that night. 

Tuesday: Went back to this one woman's house who made me two native Sarawak Iban-styled ties for me. We shared a message about the atonement and Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. Really solid lesson, but out of nowhere a massive storm comes in and since all the roofs are made out of metal, it gets so loud and we literally can't hear each other like a couple feet away from each other. The Holy Ghost was there though.  That's all that matters.

Wednesday and Thursday: Exchanges with Elder Randall and Elder Platt here in Miri. Elder Simonsen and Elder Barker went to Bintulu, so they left me to continue the Miri Elders 2 work with the Miri Elders 1 as they did exchanges there in Bintulu. Exchanges went well. Taught this big Iban group about the Restoration of the Gospel. They had to have someone come outside to understand the Malay and translate a little bit because sometimes some Iban speakers can't understand Malay that well. Iban is like 65-75% Malay and like 25-35% slightly different Malay words pronounced differently as well as words that sound and look like Tagalog. Then some words are just different all together. And all speakers just have a crazy thick accent it's wild. I gave up long ago trying to understand it. Anyways lesson went well. Couldn't set an RA so they weren't friends but there for the Miri Elders 1 anyways so don't have to teach them again. Found and biked a ton both those days. 

Friday-Sunday: Met back up with Elder Simonsen and Elder Barker and got back to work. Lot of walking around neighborhoods and lorongs and kampungs and not a lot of actually finding. Got absolutely poured on Saturday night as well. Almost fell off my bike like three times. People here are just not receptive at all. They'll just walk away mid-convo, do the classic hand wave at you, close the door, shut the blinds, run away, yell orang putih at you and then run away. Look at you like you're gonna rob them. They're all either Muslim/Roman Catholic/Buddhist/ or a part of this popular Borneo native church called SIB (Sedang Injil Borneo which translates to Current Gospel of Borneo) Didn't get to watch any general conference at all either throughout the weekend. I heard it was absolutely amazing, and I bet it was. In our mission we have to watch it with a member or less-active friend and since Malay is such a niche language, the translation takes a week to come out. So have to wait till next weekend anyways. 

Missions are hard--if you haven't heard it from me for the absolute millionth time. Being a part of the most Christian church on earth, I mean we are LITERALLY Jesus Christ's church here on the earth today, and I'm just in enemy territory. I mean straight up. I'm just gonna say it. No one wants to hear this message we have. Or the average Iban we find that does just can't find time to join for a 5-minute little call cause who knows why. I haven't even knocked every door in Miri, like I was gonna say, "Oh, I've knocked every door in Miri already." Like nah, I haven't even because we aren't even allowed to knock doors or yell towards a house with Muslim houses on either side and there has to be no Muslim people walking around on the street nearby. Can't even find like every other missionary around the world. Its super frustrating and disheartening. Little to no work is being done it seems like. I will always keep my emails as real as humanely possible. I never believe in trying to make anything glamorous or look cool or fun especially as something as important as missionary work. Just kinda starting to learn I'm a West Malaysia/Singapore missionary and not an East Malaysia missionary. Always been a big city kinda guy. Last week of the transfer ahead of me and then hopefully the Lord will give me a new area. Cause the Lord himself knows I need it. I've done my time here, Love y'all. Emails like this are the big things that help me through hard times. If you were somehow able to get through my complaints and real thoughts, then you're a real one. I was gonna end it here, but I'll give a spiritual thought.

I've been reading all the "Saints" volumes which are books of the history of the church which was started in 1830 by Joseph Smith all the way till now. They take it year by year and add it in real people and their real stories and experiences through all of the 19th, 20th and 21st century. Just seeing the growth of the church from Joseph Smith to Brigham Young to now where I am reading in the books (Saints 3, chapter 32) during WW2. A time when my grandparents were born and a time of many many travails and challenges were plaguing the world. I guess I should give myself more credit for the last 5 weeks of my life. Maybe the Lord wants to see me struggle for now. He wants to see me go where no one goes, around mosques and Buddhist temples and people who just say they're Roman Catholic by tradition and not actually religion. Because I KNOW there is ONE PERSON here in Miri. And we will find them. WE WILL. WE HAVE TO. And if that one person is me THEN SO BE IT. 

I'm sorry this wasn't even a spiritual thought, but I refuse to delete a single sentence of this. Missions aren't fun, but this will be fulfilling when I'm able to look back and see only the good. I'll be expecting a literal miracle this week. We'll see how the Lord delivers or if my potential final week here in Miri ends on a low note along with the many weeks here I've tried to tuck away. Elder Barker and Elder Simonsen are the only reason I haven't just given up haha.  Don't know what I'd be doing without them. Elder Barker is a little clueless and honestly can't take anything seriously, he's always joking which honestly I need, but man this kid has the spirit of NEVER EVER complaining. And Elder Simonsen is the biggest just big brother. He's so awesome. Y'all are awesome. No, I'm not coming home early haha even though this email makes it even seem like I want to. I would never. This mission is the most rewarding thing ever. It's so awesome to have these next 571 days ahead of me and the last 3 months have been so just giving. I understand Jesus more, to repent more. I'm more mature. I appreciate things more. Its just so great.

Elder Barlow

Membiarkan kita majulah🤺⚔️⚜️🇲🇾

Saya akan menjadi lebih baik minggu depan semasa saya tulis surat saya🙏🏼