Another great week in the LION CITY🦁 It was a GREAT one. Man, this place is just so incredible. Elder Huntley and I just have so much fun. We both just LOVE Singapore.
Monday was interesting. We got Chick fil a, which was awesome. But afterwards we went back to the apartment and I don't know, I was feeling weird. Just reflecting as I was cleaning up the apartment. Thinking about how far I've come. How I'm in Singapore. About my time in Miri and then in Johor Bahru. How much has had to happen for me to get here. Truly just the support and the little decisions and yeah, I was just reflecting heavily. Knowing how much longer I still have left which is a great thing, but it felt daunting before I went out on P-night. P-Night was great and the feeling of that went away. Did a lot of calls and finding around the church. You could just walk up and down Bukit Timah Road (the street that the church is on) and just find all day long. We met three really cool people. A British guy, a guy from Myanmar and a Chinese business Bro. All three really open. Here in Newton though everyone you find you're constantly passing off to other companionships. When you find any YSA person, you pass them off to the YSA Sisters and Elders. Any Filipino person you pass off to 3rd Ward Elders and anyone from Myanmar you pass off to Sembawang Elders. The only people we keep are 35 and up Chinese bros and any and all families. It's super fun. We grabbed some Subway and went home and called it a night.
Tuesday - went to the church in the morning to get everything set up for DCM and the night before I got assigned by the mission office to be the ZMR of Singapore. (Zone media representative) It'll be cool to help facilitate the workload of social media work to the missionaries here in Singapore. I gave a SMS share at DCM and then after we took a whole picture as a Singapore Zone. All the Singapore missionaries got together. I got to see Elder Barker, and man, Elder Barker's a good one. We gave each other the biggest dap and bro hug like twice. That's my guy. My companion in Miri at the start of my mission. Haven't seen him in 4 months. He's changed. Miri will do that to ya. We caught up a little bit, and I told him about how blessed Johor Bahru was. Then we had lunch as a district. Singapore Zone is crazy because we have four separate districts with all their own district leaders. So, districts are more compact, but it works. Then we took a group pic as a Singapore Zone which was awesome. Said hi to Elder Annison and we just started joking and picked it up right where we left off. Haven't seen him in four months. He's awesome. He replaced me in Miri when I left and now, he's serving in the Filipino Ward here in Singapore. Went and got some work pass documents ready with Elder Chen and then we were off running to WINGSTOP IN DHOBY GHAUT🍗 🍗 🍗 Yes there is a Chick Fil A AND a Wing Stop here in Singapore. Absolutely eviscerated 8 lemon pepper wings with curly fries and then we went and did some studies.
Then we met up with our good friend Dick. He's awesome. Gave him a blessing and then went and had an early McDonald's dinner with him. McDonald's and Wingstop in the same day? Am I back in Overland Park? Crazy. Did a lot of teaching calls, lot of phone work because it was pouring rain. Wasn't effective to go out and find. Eventually we went out with umbrellas and we made a friend. Had a cool conversation with a guy from Romania and a guy from Mainland China who plays on USA basketball. Super cool. I almost put this one random guy on date first contact. The Spirit of God was SO STRONG. I read 2 Nephi 31:13. The Spirit was yelling at me to extend a baptismal date. But unfortunately, he said he was moving to South Korea and I held it back. Spirit was super strong and I just told him, "Brother, God is preparing you right now through us, take a picture of my tag so you have the church name on your phone and then when you get to South Korea the missionaries WILL meet you there." He was super receptive and the Spirit was just burning. This dude the whole contact had this crazy look on his face like what the heck am I experiencing. Brother, that's the Spirit of almighty God descending upon your heart and soul preparing you to one day enter the waters of baptism. Happy I could help him remember. I LOVE IT.
Wednesday- exchanges with Elder Billings🤟🏻 my guy from North Carolina. Actually, had a chance to message him before our missions started and now, we're doing an exchange together in Singapore together. So wild. He's in Sembawang so Northern Singapore. So, I went out of my area to him, and we had an interesting day. For Sembawang, you only talk to people from Myanmar. It's just their thing. All the members are from Myanmar and the missionaries that serve in Sembawang actually learn Burmese. Super cool. So, we went out and mind you, Elder Billings and I are only like five days into our time into the 3rd mission. Into Singapore. So, we both don't have the greatest idea of what is going on. Or how to find really in Singapore ESPECIALLY for Sembawang finding. Not only are areas within the entire mission different, but areas within just Singapore are different😭 This mission is so crazy. Newton finding is different than Sembawang than it is Jurong and that it is to 3rd Ward finding. It's just crazy. I don't even know lah I just open my mouth to random strangers all day about the Book of Mormon. Since Sembawang has so many calls with their friends (who are just all from Myanmar, it's wild) Elder Johnson, our Zone leader, couldn't trust us (or at least wanted to be there for it, I mean yeah I don't blame him, it's crazy to handle the amount of people they're currently teaching right now) two to handle the amount of calls and teaching they have, so we exchanged back into normal companionship at like 8:00pm at the church. We all slept over in Newton and called it a day.
Thursday- first weekly planning with Elder Huntley.
- it went great. We got Mexican food. Which yes, it's still awesome but at this point I mean its Singapore. Nothing will top that Mamacitas in Johor Bahru with Elder Page on Christmas Eve. Good times. Anyways shout out for Guzman y Gomez. Did our weekly planning which went super smooth. We did all of our studies and planning in Harbourfront, which is right next to Sentosa Island. Such a crazy view outside the mall we were in. Anyways finished up and went to the church to do some teaching calls. Then we found a little bit outside the church. Talked to this crazy interesting Indian dude. He's the coach for one of the national martial arts team for Singapore. Dude was showing us some crazy stuff. Like how to punch, had us feeling the side of his hand he said it was "his hammer" and yeah, he wasn't lying. That thing could take anyone out. He was like "feel my calf." Elder Huntley wasn't about to do it, so I reach down and feel his calf and yeahkah that thing was a rock. He was talking about how to shake someone's hand and yeah just showing us crazy techniques all on the side of the road. Then as soon as we stopped, Bro just started praying towards the church arms out to the sky😭 Then we saw him again and he was like, "I'm coming to church and I'm going to invite your members to my martial arts class." Like okay brother, good luck with that. So random.
Eventually we went back in the church and taught English class because the Newton Sisters couldn't teach it. So, it was Elder Huntley and I, two non-Utahn deep thick American accent guys tryna teach this one guy from India (who speaks no English) for a solid 45 minutes. I'm not gonna lie--that was some of the funniest 45 minutes of my mission. We walk in and he's just super quiet. Then we find out he speaks Malay. So Elder Huntley (which we never get opportunities to speak Malay) we instantly just get super hyped, start spitting out Malay as fast as possible. Brother said he lived in JOHOR BAHRU. SHOUTOUT JOHORRRRRRRR💎. I start going crazy like brother I just lived right across the border for the last four months, I lived in Taman Molek. Anyways, we started the lesson, and this brother is just so shy. Evidently, he doesn't know a ton of Malay either. They say they know Malay but nah. The whole night we're like, "Brother, you gotta just speak English to learn it. We were saying all this in Malay of course. We asked him like 20-30 questions in Malay and then told him what each English word meant from Malay. I don't even know. Elder Huntley was definitely getting a little frustrated with this guy. English class has always been debated on in this mission on its effectiveness or not. The old mission President was big on it, but I've had some companions who just don't want to do it. When there's one Tamil Bro pulling up and we need to be finding, I would say it wasn't effective, but it was great service. Whole 45 minutes it was honestly just me doing a language study, speaking Malay the whole time, and teaching Elder Huntley some advanced words because he's been out of Malaysia and Sarawak for so long. Anyways, I end my speaking. That was a slow 45 minutes of just getting this guy to talk. Because we genuinely want Bro to learn. Like brother, just speak the words we tell you to speak and you'll learn. He's getting free opportunities to be in a room with English speakers and has opportunities to ask as many questions as he wants in Malay and yeah, I don't know, he just sat there and stared ahead pretty much. We're obviously not professional English teachers. I'm here to preach the Word that's for sure though.
Luckily, we had a little bit of finding and met some cool people. We met this one YSA girl from Dallas, which was awesome. She said she was from Texas and I'm like yeah, I am too. I'm like where in Texas and she said Dallas and then I told her I was born in Plano and grew up in McKinney and she was like, "Yeah, I know where that is." So wild. We invited her to church, and she was super high energy and said she'd come, which was great. Our last contact of the night we stopped this other YSA girl and she was also super high energy and wanted to come to church. Got both their numbers and sent them to the YSA sister missionaries. Walked home and called it night.
Friday- as I reflect and journal on that English class, this Friday morning I'm once again reminded that we need to be active in our discipleship. God can give us whatever he wants and tell us whatever he wants through scriptures and his prophet, but if we just sit there and stare straight ahead then nothing is gonna really happen. Nothing happens if nothing happens. Anyways I love it. I love the mission. I love the time missionaries can get out here to be active and to do stuff and to show it through action. I love it. Truly a safety net of discipleship. We had such a great day though other than it taking 2 hours for doing my physical examination for my work pass procedures. Got my blood drawn. Almost passed out. Got an Xray. I got my height measured and YES, LOLA, I'M 6'1. Asians know how to measure my height over here. Elder Huntley also had a Derm Appointment so that kinda threw out some time. We went finding near city hall and we met five new friends in a day and all five said they wanted to meet again! Earlier in the day though, (sorry this is all out of order) we also talked to this one guy who was from Tahiti. He's originally from Paris and he ended up telling us that his dad was one of the first bishops in Tahiti when the church was starting up there. He (not the dad the guy we were talking to) said he was inactive, but he was a baptized member and some point and actually served in the Tahiti mission. Of course, this much time later and here he is by himself on Orchard Road in Singapore and man he just looked so depressed. I stopped him and of course we got to the point where he told me that his dad was a bishop and that he served in his mission. I decided to share Moroni 9:25 with him to help remember how merciful the Lord has been to the children of men. Using the Words of Mormon himself, I mean just take a second to envision the miracle that this all is. In 421 AD, the ancient historian prophet Mormon is writing a letter to his son. He is currently witnessing an entire civilization of his people just get absolutely wiped off the face of the earth because they would not keep the commandments of God. Now 1,605 years later, Elder Barlow with his little missionary phone on Orchard Road in Orchard, Singapore, is sharing a verse with this man that almost makes him cry. He started tearing up and he said that his time was past. Clearly and very sadly he regrets his decision of falling away and he can't bring himself to repentance unfortunately. Very sad but of course, the Lord is Merciful and will understand where his heart is and will allow him another chance to repent. That was a special interaction.
We ended up getting a casual Chick fil a for dinner. Man, it's wild. Went back to the church, always doing finding on the way as we travel. Met with our recent convert, as well. Did some more finding outside the church to end the night. Had really interesting conversations throughout the day with some Catholics. All of them are so keras hati. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of small interactions I get a day though, this one at the end of the night needs to be journaled. We're walking home and we stop this one couple. Of course, I stop them (why wouldn't I? Everyone you lay eyes on should be stopped because everyone needs a baptism.) and ask how they're doing, the usual conversation starter. They look put off (as does anyone when they feel the Spirit for the first time.) but they respond that they're good. In comes Elder Huntley and we just start doing the usual contact. "Are you Christian?" "Yes, we're Catholics." Whenever I hear that, I immediately lock in 100x more. Like okay, it's time to press a little bit in a loving but correcting way. I will contend with them that contend with thee mentality. Because you know they literally burn our Book of Mormons and do even crazier stuff. Anyways we bring up the Book of Mormon, and they always pull the, "I know already," so of course we're like, "Brother, it's extra Word of God, have you ever read it?" Of course he hasn't, BUT he says he knows our church and the Book of Mormon based OFF THE BOOK OF MORMON THEATRICAL BROADWAY PLAY. I am left to start laughing at this man alongside Elder Huntley for the next two minute straight in his face. Not even really at him but I mean come on now. His poor wife. Brother, that's the last thing you want to say to Latter-day Saint missionaries (after we just told him we wake up at 7am for 2 years straight and have 11 and a half hour workdays 6 days a week and sacrifice so much especially someone like Elder Huntley). Like brother, are we serious? Elder Huntley literally goes, "Brother, I know you're smarter than that." Man, that was just crazy. So, we're like, "Alright. brother, well we just want you to read the Book of Mormon." They both actually caught up to us at the stoplight and were being kinda chill. I felt a little bad. But anyways Elder Huntley said something interesting that night as we're teaching our recent convert that the hardest part of our job is to just get people to open the Book. Just opening the book is the hardest part. I loved that. It's sadly true. Anyways, that was crazy. You know people just don't know what they don't know when they pull the Book of Mormon Broadway card💔 I've heard it all, folks. Hey that's why we're out here though. Buka buku je.
Also, shoutout to the Chick fil a owner here in Bugis. Dude is so hebat. He comes up, Sangat locked in and so business. Shakes our hands as we're waiting for our food. Really only to us. Then proceeds to go into the back and gives us two free ice cream cones. Memang he knows all the missionaries here. He's got his eyes locked on our tags😭. All without saying a word to us just smiling btw. Because he knows WELL that I'm gonna hop on this email and write all this out. I feel like I have to. Go get Chick fil a today, y'all. Y'all deserve it. You can eat Chic fil a while reading the Book of Mormon. Sounds like a good time to me. It's God's restaurant. They keep the Sabbath day holy. That's why they're the most successful. I'm being dead serious right now.
Saturday- crazy start to the morning because NUMBER 18/18 OF THE COPELAND FAM, MY GUY MASON TO HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA🇨🇦 SPEAKING FRENCH WOWWWWWWW. MEMANG MANTAP (OF COURSE, AWESOME) saw the text from bapaku (my dad) and lost my mind. I think we both share the same reaction in "Really, they have a mission out there?" What a pull. What a call. What a place. That's awesome, brother. French is the best. Bundle up. Nova Scotia means New Scotland from Latin🏴. Super cool. Love ya, brother.
Saturday was great though. Met a friend with this YSA girl named Grace. Of course, we pass off all YSA people we make friends with to the YSA Sisters and Elders but regardless, it's cool to help out the other companionships. This Grace girl was super cool though. Absolutely massively powerful conversation about the Book of Mormon with the Holy Ghost. She seemed like she was going to leave mid-conversation multiple times with her body language, but she stayed every time. We had helped her miraculously remember what the Spirit felt like. Seeing that firsthand made my day. Nothing better. She just seemed so intrigued, so perplexed. I'll never forget it. Other than that, I got asked FOUR TIMES how my mission was going😭 by random strangers. Like all y'all know that I'm a member and on something called a mission yet y'all won't hear the message? Honestly, I still respect it. They at least take the time to ask and care even a tiny bit. We invited a ton of people to church for the next day, and I slowed down how I approached people. Usually I'm really high energy and very up front and personal. But today I toned down the tone and just helped them feel the Spirit and it was noticeably miles better. Super Great. We met with our on-dates and ate with them. Met with Jacob who was getting baptized the next day. He's doing great. Grabbed some Subway and called it a night. Ready for the baptism and fast tomorrow.
Sunday- JACOB'S BAPTISM🌊/PUASA/SABBATH YANG HEBAT SELALU⛪
Sunday was amazing. Opened the fast. Had Jacob's Baptism. He's so awesome. Church was great. Went up and bore my testimony about the whole interaction we had with the guy I mentioned earlier on Friday morning, the guy from Tahiti. Bore my testimony about the Book of Mormon. It's become a mission tradition for myself every single fast and testimony meeting to bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon. Mentioned Moroni 9:25 and the experience with that man with the Spirit. Super cool. Got to talk with and know a lot more members than last week, which was awesome. Told them I was from Kansas and a couple of the ex-pat members shared their history from Kansas which is always fun to talk about OPK and Lawrence and Wichita and stuff. One of the members I was talking to about Kansas said they hadn't been back since 2010. I literally told them, "It's probably a whole nother country how it is now compared to then." Anyways, I digress. Alwaysssss gotta give the OPK Shoutout🦸🏻 We went and helped a member take down his whole bed after our studies and then reassembled his bed in another room. We broke our fast with him, and Elder Huntley and I were super happy we got to do some service. We went all the way home and called it a night. Did zero finding that day. Just a baptism and service. I'll take it.
That was a great week. I think we're going to the Singapore Zoo today. Super pumped to see the Malaysian Bengal Tiger. The national animal of Malaysia. Should be a good one.
"Let Zion in her beauty rise;
Her light begins to shine.
Ere long her King will rend the skies,
Majestic and divine,
The gospel spreading thru the land,
A people to prepare
To meet the Lord and Enoch’s band
TRIUMPHANT IN THE AIR"
"Ye heralds, sound the golden trump
To earth’s remotest bound.
Go spread the news from Pole to Pole
In all the nations round:
That Jesus in the clouds above,
With hosts of angels too,
Will soon appear, his Saints to save,
HIS ENEMIES SUBDUE"
From Pole to Pole
🇲🇾Negara Malaysia ke Negara Singapura🇸🇬
Yours truly,
Elder Barlow🇸🇬
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