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🇲🇾🇸🇬
No comments:
Post a Comment