If you haven't read Book of Mormon yet, do NOT read this email.
the time is at hand, ladies and gentlemen...
🇸🇬
Buckle in, this was a fun one.
Newton ward🇸🇬
PUJILAH TUHAN MEMANG DIA ADALAH RAJA PENCIPTAAN DAN DUNIA INI
With Elder Huntley. (from Folsom California, Shoutout California, Shoutout Simi Valley, Shoutout Moorpark College〽️ Texas is still better, don't even trip for a second)
Anyways.
Singapore🇸🇬
Ex-pat ward kawwwwww🦅🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸 in the T-2nd most promised land (tied with Malaysia) with people from the most Promised Land. Can it get any better folks?
It's time.
Let's just jump right in and start cakap cakap tentang negara dari Singapura🇸🇬 bolehkah
I bid farewell (for now I'll be back) to the great nation of Malaysia. What a place Malaysia is and everything it has to offer. God is a god of miracles. The Lord needs not worry where his chosen servants are or where they reside or about any local laws prohibiting his chosen servants to preach the everlasting and saving restored gospel of Jesus Christ that is only found in the one and only True Church of Jesus Christ where all the Saints of the last dispensation of the fullness of time resides. Shoutout Malaysia. I love Kuala Lumpur. My heart will forever be with the city of Johor Bahru. I did my best to help others come to Zion in the great city of Miri, Sarawak, from July 26th-October 17th. A great place where I was humbled and learned how to speak the language of Malay. Then from October 17th to February 20th in the promised land of Johor Bahru. I did my all, biked fast, did all the talking and preaching my frame allowed me to do in each and every day I had in Malaysia with all the knowledge I had. Of course, when I had it. It's not over. Of course, I'll be back. Man, do I love these Melayu Muslims that will one day by a MIRACLE OF GOD be able to receive this GOSPEL BECAUSE MEMANG HE'S A GOD OF MIRACLES. I pray continually that the Lord will continue to soften the hearts of the people that reside in Malaysia.
Memang I get emotional about this. It means everything to me. Like yeah leaving areas are hard memang but dang I gotta leave behind a whole entirely different country with a different culture and makeup behind💔
I also don't want anything to think I'm happy or excited to leave Malaysia. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't put Singapore on a pedestal above Malaysia. Don't believe in that. I'm going in with an open mind.
I end my speaking about Malaysia🇲🇾👋🏻
I look forward to the next 4½-6 months in Singapore🇸🇬
📢Clarification📢
(Monday night to Thursday morning happened in Malaysia🇲🇾
Thursday noon to now, Monday noon, happened in Singapore🇸🇬)
Monday- P-night. Went out with Elder Png🇸🇬 we had a crazy start to P-night. He almost lost his phone, and it was a whole situation with bike locks and yeah, we spent 45 minutes looking for Elder Png's phone. We ended up finding it after a long hard prayer of faith. I gave up looking because we found this one cracked phone screen on the road and I thought it was his destroyed phone, but man Elder Png just filled with the spirit of faith. Elder Png is special. Just a beast. 23 years old literally a grown man and just a literal warrior. I have SO much respect for this man. When he speaks, I listen. Anyways we had a great night. Was so weird no one was outside because everyone was celebrating Chinese New Years with their family inside their houses. We ended up going to McDonald's and just doing contacts inside because it also started to rain a bit. Biked home and called it a night. Went to bed nervous but excited.
Tuesday- transfer calls🇸🇬. Woke up that morning and yeah knew I was gone. No question. That feeling didn't leave. I kept having thoughts I was going to Kuching back in Sarawak but nah, apparently I was wrong. Sat down for DCM and man when that zoom link comes in everyone starts going crazy. They called me and Elder Page up and President Ho said "Elder Barlow, you will be packing your bags and taking the next train over the border to Newton Ward in Singapore." Whole world stopped for a second. I mean wow. Then I hear "Elder Page, you will be staying and be companions with Elder Stevens" (my MTC comp) I just look at Elder Page and we just start dying laughing. Like what? Wow. For some background Elder Page has served in Newton last summer and he'll say Newton was his favorite area. He's already told me so much about it and how much fun it was. Best place to serve in Singapore out of all the wards. It's not prideful, it's just true. You literally go finding in gardens by the bay and by marina bay sands.
AHHHH🇸🇬 anyways, went out a second day in a row with Elder Png and we didn't have any bikes but it's all good lah. It was also raining. Once again, no one was outside because of Chinese New Year. All the shops and stores were closed. So we literally just grabbed (ubered) over to Elder Png's extended family, none of them are members either and just spent the whole day with them. On the way over, Elder Png is like, "Elder, I'm gonna need you to lock in (focus up) and start learning some Mandarin right now.) then proceeds to teach me four Mandarin phrases in the span of 20 minutes. Memang I'm stressing like crazy 😭😭 Anyways, they were all so confused about who I was and why their nephew Elder Png is bringing around this white guy the whole day with him. They're all Buddhist and none of them speak Malay and little English only. There was one guy who spoke some Indonesian/Malay but I was definitely speaking either too fast or too big of a vocab for him to understand my Malay. Chinese people just don't like speaking Malay unless they have to for business purposes haha. Anyways, it was a fun time. It's not like there was any finding (tracting) to do. Literally, no one was outside. It was so funny, the Chinese fam was just asking Elder Png and I if we were allowed to eat pork and meat because we told them at a point, we're not allowed to drink their lemon tea or take their big gift packets with money in it. So, they're basically like "Y'all follow the Muslims and just not eat pork, too?" Obviously, this was all being spoken in Mandarin, so when Elder Png eventually translates the conversation, it was so funny. Then they realize that I understand what they're saying, and they just start laughing like nah, I literally only eat meat. I mean y'all just saw me putting down all your Chinese pork jerky😭 I don't even know y'all it was such a blur. There was so much going on. TV blasting in the back just straight Mandarin. Then they're all like "Let's just go to McDonald's." Of course, I'm like yeah bet let's go! I love McDonald's. We hop in their car, they drive us over, Me and Elder Png are just laughing the whole time. They're asking if Elder Png has a girlfriend and I was just teasing him so hard about that comment. Like menang cannot. Elder Png the whole day was just having to explain his purpose as a missionary to his family. Like if I brought Elder Png over to my cousin's house in Dallas or Utah for Thanksgiving it would be just as crazy, but at least he can speak English😭 They don't pay for me of course, and Elder Png has to translate all their Mandarin into English, but yeah I just got absolutely thrown into Chinese New Year with a Chinese family firsthand experience of what Chinese New Year is like. All the little snacks are out.
Anyways. What a day. I end my speaking. I could go on. Chinese New Year Is like Thanksgiving, 4th of July, and New Years Day all mixed into one. So crazy.
Oh yeah, also not done with Tuesday yet. While y'all were waking up Tuesday morning, Tuesday night was wild. The man himself, Elder Buckner and his wife, hopped on a mission-wide call with President and Sister Ho and all of us missionaries all over the mission, from Penang to Sandakan and from Kota Kinabalu to Singapore. We all gathered around our phones and found out we HIT OUR GOAL OF 60 BAPTISMS FOR THE TRANSFER (January 12th-February 20th), the MOST Singapore/Malaysia mission has gotten in a LONG time. We truly put it on the altar and the Lord, the God of Miracles, filled in the gaps. We hit 61 and Elder Buckner literally said, "I told President Ho when I woke up this morning you have the best freaking missionaries in the world." Man, that's the reward of a transfer. That's the reward of a mission. Whole thing was recorded so I'll try and get the video, but wow. Special. President and Sister Ho before they revealed that we got 61/60 baptisms shared some thoughts. Elder and Sister Buckner were on their own phone. All the missionaries were on and yeah, they asked us to unmute our mics. Elder Wride or Elder Rawson didn't really remember one of the APs goes, "So Singapore Mission, we did not hit 60 baptisms (no pause just instantly goes) WE HIT 61, and everyone just loses their minds. The noise coming out of my phone was just insane. Everyone jumps up, APs just out of their seats, everyone betul betul just starts hugging each other. Elder Stevenson just starts shaking me. Something I won't forget. We were all in it together and man, we got it. When they sent in the baptismal goal of 60, we were like no way, wow that's crazy, that's gonna be tough. Elder Buckner walked into Kuala Lumpur and was telling missionaries that we don't have enough faith. That we need more faith. And man we had the faith.
Ether 12:27
The greatest verse of all time to ever be written by the hand of man and spoken by the Mouth of the almighty God.
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
I can talk about the weakness of the mission itself, but I literally couldn't even bike home my first night in the mission field. My guy Conor had to carry me home basically. MEMANG HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.
This mission only had 40 missionaries in it 4 years ago. Covid absolutely wiped out SO many members and wards throughout Malaysia. Dwindling them down into branches. Satan raged hard in the hearts of men in certain places. Contention was abound. Men's hearts were failing them just as prophesied by prophets of Old.
Great faith was exercised to enlarge the mission, for certain missionaries to be sent here only for reasons and purposes known by the Lord. Now Singapore, as I am entering, has the most missionaries it has had in a long time, work passes being handed out, the Lord needs more missionaries. The elect are out there, the field betul betul terlalu putih.
And now we see that the Lord Jesus Christ only works amongst the children of men according to their faith.
And I, Elder Barlow, having seen these events, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith;
PUJILAH TUHAN BAHKAN YESUS KRISTUS🇲🇾
Wednesday- okay maaf my thumbs were flying but memang like I was saying, I learn by the journal. We will be judged by the books written. It's why at one point we were urged by, I think either Ezra Taft Benson or one of the prophets, that we should be journaling as much as possible. Anyways. Serve the Lord. You will be blessed. No amount of wage or paycheck could ever create this Joy. I exhort all that are not in familiarity with the Book of Mormon to obtain it as fast as humanely possible. To search and take ahold upon its pages and to ask God about the verity of its message.
Anyways Wednesday- Wednesday was fun. Went to the church and was filling out and printing out all my travel and border documentation when Elder Page calls the APs, and they say that they want Elder Workman and I to take a bus over the Singapore border instead of bussing all the way up to Kuala Lumpur and then flying to Singapore. This is awesome news because that means less travel, way less money spent by the mission office, and way more effective. They haven't bussed the Elders from Johor Bahru to Singapore in like two years for safety reasons. So, we put a pause on filling out my Singapore arrival card. Then we met up with our Branch President and walked around an IKEA/Mall for a couple hours who took us out to lunch. Then he bought us some snacks. He's awesome. Hard to say goodbye for sure. Gonna miss this Johor Bahru Branch. We got back to the church and then with a new bus ticket and other documents received, I filled out the remainder of my Singapore Arrival card. Me and Elder Page then did some gate knocking and it, yeah, it was so slow. Chinese New Year still in full affect. Everyone's still partying like crazy. We wrapped up the day and then called our On-Date. Told him I was leaving for Singapore. Told him that Elder Stevens is going to come in and baptize you, so keep meeting with us and you'll be alright.
Last full day in the tanah yang terpilih oleh Tangan Tuhan🇲🇾
Did only an hour of weekly planning with Elder Page at our beloved Carls Jr (Los Angeles' very own Shoutout Simi Valley dua kali memang🌟) We biked all the way to Southkey Mall and my back tire got so popped. Walked all the way to the mall and we're bikeless for the rest of the day. Memang susah💔. Weekly planning went great. Elder Page sat me down and just gave me a massive rundown of Newton (because he's served there before) and just some finding, grabbed back, ate some good old Indian Muslim mamak food, called our other on-dates for the last time and continued packing. The excitement is building folks...🇸🇬 One more full day in Negara Malaysia... One more sleep in Malaysia until Singapura🇸🇬
Friday- woke up Friday morning and did the last of my packing. Looked around that apartment and took it all in. Memang Im not tryna be dramatic. Lot of Elders and memories spent in the apartment and my whole time in Johor Bahru. I signed my name and signature and wrote D&C 135:5 on the Johor state flag at the apartment. Took a Book of Mormon and folded the leaf down on page 485 and put it on my desk for Elder Stevens. and then walked out the door. Johor is on its way to Zion... Slowly but surely the Spirit of God will descend upon the peoples of Semenanjung Negara Malaysia
The travel to Singapore was crazy. They bussed us across the border. Elder Workman and I were literally being the guinea pigs for the whole mission to see if it was possible, and yes it was super stressful, very very fast paced travel but It was WAY shorter than if we bussed up to Kuala Lumpur and then flew all the way to Singapore. So, I'll take it. Literally a four-minute bus drive from JB central to Singapore immigration and then went through with the passport, and then got on the same bus and then we got off in Great World. Me and Elder Workman were so lost, but we had to grab McDonald's to start off the day. After that It somehow took me and Elder Workman like an hour (maybe more) to get to the church here in Newton, but we eventually made it and I was united with Elder Huntley. He gave me his thick deep voice by saying, "Welcome to Singapore, Elder." Wow. Just so wild.
I have finally made it to the 3rd mission. I've served in East Malaysia. I just did four months in West Malaysia. And now my time in the third mission, as we say in this mission, has started.
Singapura🇸🇬
Even just upon stepping off the bus it felt unreal. Then I got to go finding on Orchard Road? All these Europeans and just people from all over of every race and tongue. Actually was insanity. Elder Huntley and Elder Reyman just absolutely threw me into the Singapore finding fire. No hesitation, just took me to the Las Vegas strip of all of Southeast Asia and then we SPLIT OFF and I was left to stop SO MANY random strangers on my OWN. Just the craziest start to a transfer and an area. My phone was dead, too, had no idea what time it was, but we just went off, stayed within sight and sound and yeah just went to work. After I got flipped off, got called buddy probably 3-4 times, and rejected countless times, we finally found an elect Japanese Bro who's super cool.
We did our studies and then did some more on the way finding. I'm absolutely lost trying to make it through these MRTs (the subway here in Singapore is called MRT) we eventually went to the massive church building here in Newton and did calls from 7:30-9:00, went back home and then did some last miracle minute finding right outside the house.
Truly, Singapore is just wild. You're CONSTANTLY fulfilling your purpose to invite others to Christ and you're just wasting no time. Every single minute is effective. There's so many contacts to do, you can find wherever and whenever you want. Anyways, that was a great first day. Definitely a little bit of a shock to the system but transitioning to new areas keeps getting easier just over time. Especially coming from just right over the border from Johor Bahru where you already do a lot of public contacting. Anyways, was a blur for a couple of hours and still a little am with trying to learn the MRTs and the area, but as far as work is, I felt pretty good about adjusting right away for this transfer.
Saturday- another great day in Singapore. I'll say it right here: The Spirit of God Is just stronger in a country like Singapore than Malaysia. No wonder the work here in Singapore is just absolutely booming compared to Malaysia. A temple is currently being built here, and the Lord is hastening and preparing this country for it. It's special. Went out and met with a member and got lunch with him. His name is Dick, and man he's a funny one. I taught him Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood and broke it down for him (Shoutout Bishop Divine for teaching) as he was saying some pretty crazy stuff about not wanting to serve anymore. I'm like, "Brother, just read verse 41 for me and lock in😭 Anyways, he paid for our lunch and bought me a shake, so he's awesome. We did our Companionship study at a Dunkin Donuts cause you know there's just thousands of malls everywhere within the MRT stations. Insane. Language study comes around and I just can't bring myself to study Malay. Absolutely not a soul speaks Malay in Singapore even though it's one of its national languages. Memang susah. I've been studying French out here, which has been super fun. There's a good amount of French people especially near our church here in Newton district, and there's a French college right next to the Newton Stake center. My goal is to be able to do an entire contact all in French. (Purpose stated, invite to church, pray sikit) I did two years of it in high school and French is by far and away my favorite language (other than Bahasa Melayu🇲🇾) Anyways. We had a just typical absolutely flying around day in Singapore. AT EVERY SECOND, you fulfill your purpose as a missionary here. It is UNREAL TO DO MISSIONARY WORK IN SINGAPORE. We are CONSTANTLY finding/messaging people/sending church invites/responding to media referrals/walking/traveling from MRT stop to MRT stop/talking. I end my speaking. This is NOTHING like Malaysia missionary work in any way. (mind you I was ONLY 10 miles away for the last four months... Think of how crazy that is) Anyways, on Saturday we met with this one family at their restaurant two separate times. We did contacts on a curb for like an hour. Then we moved but found on the way. Again, always fulfilling your purpose. I feel the Spirit more. I'm happier. I'm constantly smiling. This place is RIDICULOUS. Anyways, ah oh my gosh I just can't even sometimes. We did some park finding and I just looked up. Just looked around. Like oh my gosh there's just no WAY. We went back to the Newton stake center and did some calls. Did our baptismal interview then went back to the home and did some more church invites before Sunday. What a day. Goes by so fast at this point. Trying my all to take it all in.
Sunday- what a day. First Sunday here in Singapore and the Ward mission Leader brother Sturgess wanted me to baptize an Indian lady that the Newton/Jurong Sisters have been teaching. Super cool. I did absolutely nothing but changed into the baptismal clothes, went into the water, and baptized her. It was great. Met so many new members and ran into missionaries who I haven't seen in forever. Saw Elder Barker and Elder Annison, two Elders I'm close with. I was companions with Elder Barker my 2nd transfer in Miri. He's a funny one. And then Elder Annison was in my MTC group he's super fun. Anyways baptism went great. After our personal study, I walk out of the room and I run into Elder Kentner's parents😭 😭 so unbelievably random. I recognized both of them, but I was just so in shock and had to process if they were who I thought they were. They're in the Olathe Stake (different wards at the time) and Landon (Elder Kentner) and I went to different high schools before our missions, but I got close with him right before we left. So crazy. Took a pic with them and it was so awesome to talk about how Olathe and Overland Park were doing. Memang President Gillis and Bishop Divine doing special things in the promised land of Overland Park🤟🏻 Anyways after that blessed encounter, we went out and did some studies/finding. Me and Elder Huntley did our language study just talking to each other in Malay. Was still thinking about church though. Just unreal. Like I just went to church with a ward, so many members, just so many more people in general, not speaking any Malay (unfortunately) nor am I hearing Mandarin at all. Just all English. Unfortunately, didn't meet the Andersons. But the leadership is so strong here and yeah, it's great to be around a place where the church is established and strong. The Sabbath is truly a delight, people (especially in Singapore😂) what a place.
I'll wrap up this email. Elder Huntley is a great Elder by the way. He knows his way around. He's been here in Newton for four months. Grown man who just has the wisdom. Already has done two years at BYU. He's pretty hard on me, I'm not gonna lie. It's his way, but it works. He returns it with love most times. Anyways, who knows what we're gonna do for P-Day. Probably just walk around Singapore, eat food, see what Singapore has to offer. This is gonna be a funnnn time. Don't get me wrong though. Singapore is crazy hard work. I mean you wanna talk about flying around--it's actually just so fast-paced missionary work. I don't even know but it's awesome.
Actually, I somehow almost forgot to document this, BUT THERE IS A CHICK FIL A in Singapore😭 🇸🇬 MEMANG we're getting Chick fil a😭 God's restaurant⚜️
"I’m gonna live so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere.
I’m gonna live so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere.
I’m gonna work so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere.
I’m gonna work so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere.
I’m gonna pray so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere.
I’m gonna pray so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere.
I’m gonna sing so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere.
I’m gonna sing so God can use me
Anytime and anywhere."
Love y'all. I try not to gloat or brag. Just want to document this all. I DID NOT choose to come to this mission. (I mean I did but after the call was received, y'all know what I mean) The Lord did. Blessed be the name of God for it.
I'm just gonna live so God can use me.
🤟🏻 Jumpa lagi dari negara Singapura🇸🇬🦁
- Elder Barlow🇸🇬
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