Hello, everyone. Really long and rewarding week. First Zone Conference in the Last two months since KL. Gonna be a great one in the Lion City🇸🇬
This spans from 3/2-3/11. Nine-day week because of Zone Conference. P-day got pushed back to this Wednesday. Anyways.
Yes, I turn 20 years old in 4 days. Oh my, that's gross. Stop it. Let's hope people actually stop treating me like a teenager now bolehkah?
Monday was interesting. I have realized at some points I don't realize that Satan just does a really good job of confusing people by culture, science, tradition, and by the ideals of men. I didn't realize maybe it's not most people's fault that they don't know what they don't know. I needed to be better throughout this week as I was reflecting on Monday night. That Monday P-night was one I needed. I appreciated the many many interesting and unique conversations that come from so many different people of different backgrounds. I've said it before but before the mission I just didn't know what I didn't know either. I believed false things to be true. I was deceived but hey, that's why I'm out here. To learn and teach truth. I've been around the propaganda that Satan uses on social media to stir up the hearts of men. To spurn a certain religion that has always been unfairly persecuted, I'll say. Just was not good. But that's why I am out here. To become. It's all about becoming. I got a little too comfortable and lax coming from Malaysia to Singapore. Even in Malaysia, I could've been better. That's why a mission is two years long. I'll be better y'all.
Just seeing through a spiritual lens of hearing what people thought about different topics pertaining to religion. One guy said religion is "irrational" and that he uses logic to reason. Another guy was talking about the Islamic influence in Europe he noted in his home country of Germany. He said he didn't appreciate it and that religion is used as a means to only answer questions of the unknown and to appease men not knowing all the answers. Literally multiple people said and most people throughout my mission especially Malaysian Chinese people admit that their religion is only "followed" from a standpoint of tradition or family. I really appreciated everything I heard that night and people's honesty. It's healthy to talk about it. There's no point for me to be disgusted because someone doesn't know a niche thing about Christianity. That's literally why I'm out here anyways. Another guy brought up the Book of Mormon play, but guess what, he said he respected us and really appreciated what we were doing. So why judge? If he wants to claim and tell us that there's no such thing as bad publicity, then alright. Maybe that stuff led to at least one person being converted. I don't know. It all comes back to controlling what I can control and a personal responsibility of opening my mouth, standing as a witness, being bold but just cannot be overbearing. Gotta be more righteous. That's the goal of life. To become. Memang I wanna be chosen. I love Singapore. The diversity and the landscape of more educated individuals and even more diversity threw me off. My testimony of the Book of Mormon is also growing like never before.
Monday- we met a very cool rugby Bro that just finished his lift outside his gym. He's super cool. Talked to him about the Book of Mormon and he was super receptive. MEMANG BOLEH. That I can be happy with. Other than that, yeah like I said, just so many different people that obviously the Lord wanted me to talk to and hear and just to ponder on their thought processes and just their overall thoughts about higher beings and religion. Of course, if someone is ready to receive such a message they will but if they don't then so what? I did my job when I had the chance. It's one at a time. I love it. We got dinner at Newton Hawker, and I got some great Thailand fried noodles. So good. Got some Indian cheese naan bread. The food is ridiculous out here. Memang hebat.
Tuesday- Exchanges with Elder Myers in Jurong👨🏻🦰🙏🏻🧑🏻
Went with the human torch himself. We came out to Malaysia at the same time back in July, but our district and his never saw each other in Provo because he's Mandarin called. We had DCM and then we went and got McDonald's and the worker when she saw me just started saying stuff like "Hallelujah, praise God, bless you" LIKE YES SISTER PUJILAH TUHAN PADA TERTINGGI. Anyways, we had to stay in my area of Newton to grab some paperwork for the hospital for my work pass stuff, but we ended up going over to Jurong (west Singapore area) where more of the older Chinese people live. So, knowing Mandarin is of course super helpful and needed a little bit. We found for a while. Some of the older Chinese people only know Mandarin and their dialects and little English, so some I just had to make sure to send Elder Myers way. It went super great though. Found in the rain for three hours and then got Wingstop together. Got absolutely drenched and had a fun time walking so fast around Bukit Batok with Elder Myers. We had a Bible bash, and I'd say we got the man thinking. He didn't make a ton of great points to be completely honest. Elder Myers did a great job being on the offensive and asked him a lot of great questions. We expounded the scriptures and he ended up leaving after a 30-minute conversation. I asked him how he knew all of that and he sent me resources that I have been studying over to be ready just in case someone attempts to tear down my testimony. Really good day. Taught a lesson at the end of the day and it went great.
Wednesday- met back up with Elder Huntley and we went to Maxwell to meet with our on-dates. Taught the mom and ate some pizza with them. It was great. Got pooped on by a bird during language study. Did a lot of finding. Once again, every day this week just soaking up more and more perspectives and what people think. So interesting. We had a probably 40-minute Bible bash with this one guy. He literally felt the Spirit from me reading 2 Nephi 29:6-9 with him and then he proceeded to deny the Holy Ghost in front of two witnesses of Jesus Christ. Pray for this man, y'all. That's gonna be a tough one. We confounded him and once again he didn't make too many other points other than just making false assumptions and claims with nothing to back it up. Just a lot of fun to go out and lay down the truth. Mind you, we didn't even use the Book of Mormon. Only using the Bible out here for people who seek to tear down the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We went back to the church, had a lot of video call lessons and then got Subway and called it a night. We were sitting pool side and Elder Huntley and I were just sitting there and having a great conversation. Always great memories.
Thursday- weekly planning. Started off the day calling Lola my sister. So much fun. Getting to call her and laugh. Just the best. Man, I miss it. Great start to the day.
Did our studies and weekly planning. Went to a member meal and these two teenagers were hilarious. They were just talking about so many different topics, and this one dude is just so hilarious. His tone and him just saying the craziest stuff. So funny. Ate some enchiladas and had some crazy good cookies. Man, menang hebat. Went to the church and had two video-call lessons. Then went to the Orchard Road at night and found. Found a couple interesting people and had a really good conversation clearing up misconceptions from Instagram reels and Tik Tok where unfortunately everyone gets their false news about us. This one guy we had that type of conversation where we just clear up this guy's confusions about who we are and what we do. We went back home and called it a night. Didn't get a ton of finding in, but it was an effective day.
Friday- started off with some morning finding in Dhoby Ghaut. Met a couple cool people. Ate, studies, contacts, to restaurant to meet with our on-dates. Taught the kids. Went to Bugis. It's been absolutely pouring here in Singapore. Raining so much every day. Went to Bugis though. Found for an hour and a half. Accidentally did an entire contact with a Muslim guy. It's chill in Singapore though. Went and absolutely destroyed some Chick Fil a. Went back to the church and met with our recent convert. Ended the night off with some miracle minute finding. Great day. Flew around. Met four new friends. Great day.
Saturday- pretty good day. Started off finding with walking from Newton to Novena for an hour and a half. Of course, so much rejection. Met this one really really soft-hearted Catholic couple. Truly a one in a million. They were, "You're awesome, keep doing what you're doing." I sat there and just preached for like two minutes about Joseph Smith and the Restoration and the Restoration of the Priesthood and they're literally like, "Where is the evidence?" and I'm like, "Yeah, we don't have any physical evidence except for Joseph Smith's own written experience about it. They're like, "We want to read it." I'm like, "Yeahkahhhhh, reallyyyyy." Crazy. Literally said a prayer of gratitude after the contact was over. I invited them to read the Book of Mormon and to just research the church. Left them with a church invite for the next day and they walked away just super happy and smiling. Super cool. Other than that, no one was interested. We ate some Mexican food. It was great. Had a lesson with our on-date. Studies, then went over to our on-dates, taught them eventually.
On our way back to Newton, Elder Huntley kinda had to give me a speech when we got on the MRT. Just told me some things and I was pretty quiet the rest of the day. I felt chastised but truly he does it because I was being prideful. I wasn't being the companion who was being too mindful of the Spirit in that certain circumstance. So, he just told me a lot of things and kinda laid down his thoughts. We've been a lot better now. It's great to be around a companion who truly does care and also has conviction and urgency. I'm not gonna lie, Elder Page and I, I was always getting onto him. Didn't see a lot of fire or urgency from him. So, with Elder Huntley it's so nice. Elder Huntley just told me that yes, I'm going to be harder on you but I'm gonna be working hard with you. I'm the exact same way. So, it's growing pains. We both care a lot. We both love Singapore a lot. We both love the Book of Mormon. We're both very urgent and have a lot of passion. So of course we clash now and then. But we're doing better now. Always want to keep it real on the emails. I've loved all my companions. Even though some things they do drive me crazy haha. But I love them so much. I just can't force the way I do missionary work individually on others. I probably now know a fraction of how my mom feels😅 nah jk. Anyways, night was chill. Went back to the Church and had two lessons. Recent convert lesson with our guy Jacob‼️ He's just the best. So much fun to be around him. Other lesson was really good. Went and did baptismal stuff and I printed out so much paperwork for my work pass appointment. Found on the way back home, got told to stop talking to a Chinese unc and let's just say he did not use a kind phrase to reject the message of peace and joy I wanted to tell this man. Elder Huntley kinda came over and defended me a little bit which I really appreciated even though we weren't talking too much that night. But anyways luckily, we met a really cool guy who ended up coming to church the next day. Went home and called it a night. Stayed pretty quiet and read and finished all of Matthew. It's been good to also be reading the New Testament. Can't be in a conversation and they ask, "Have you read the Bible" and then I lie and say yes. So gotta read it.
Sunday- what a DAY AT CHURCH. baptized a family of 3🌊🌊🌊 entire Utah State college class full of students walk in and all these RMs and they just start talking to us asking us where we're from and stuff. Super cool. Anyways church was joyful as always. Asia Area Presidency rocks and a focus that Elder Buckner had was to make your Sacrament meeting the most joyful hour of the week. Really been focusing on that and it's been great since January. Had the baptism and Elder Huntley baptized the mom and I baptized the two little kids. Man, they were so funny. One of the kids genuinely dove into the baptismal font and started swimming. I had to not laugh and just force his arms onto mine so I could baptize him😂 Kids are always fun to baptize. Went smoothly and yeah Elder Huntley and I were feeling a lot closer. Spirit was stronger in our companionship. Can't be mad at baptizing a family of course. That cleared up any contention really quick. Went back to the house, ate, personal study, studies, then had a member meal. Gosh, I feel like such a stateside missionary. (nothing wrong with that of course) Then we got to meet with PRESIDENT AND SISTER HO🙏🏻 man they're so awesome. Haven't seen them in two months. Way too long. Since last Zone Conference was in Kuala Lumpur with Elder Buckner the first week of last transfer. So, it's been a minute. But since this Zone Conference is in Singapore, they fly in earlier with the APs and so they just get all the Singapore missionaries interviews out of the way which is great. Was missing my Pres and his wife. Interviews went great. Asked them some questions. Received great counsel. Sister Ho was a lot of fun. My best interview with her yet. Of course, President Ho just so stressed. I'm not gonna lie, that interview with him was so short. He was not joking around too much. Memang Pres has so much on his plate I have no idea. But yeah, he's awesome still. Went home Sunday night and I heard a special person's voice at the door. Thee man, Elder Steven's IN THE FLESH. I ripped open that door man, gave Elder Steven's the biggest hug. Man. Haven't seen him in 5 and a half months. Way too long. So awesome we stayed up till like 1 AM just talking about literally everything. Asked him how the fam was doing. Told him about the Barlow fam. Just so clutch. So needed. (ended up losing my voice with him as we were talking)
Monday (first day of Zone Conference. Blitz day. Not P-day. They give you a new companion, and you go and do service and then go out to an assigned area and find)
- I was blitz companions with Elder Stewart‼️ He's awesome. Got to know him really well. From Atlanta. We went to Beauty world and had a great time. We had Wingstop together and we had our personal studies at the church. I had already done my interviews the night before, but we had to go back for his interviews. He's a district leader in Kuala Lumpur, so it was great to talk to him about my beloved city of Kuala Lumpur and how it was doing. I wanna serve there so bad. I love west Malaysia so much. Love Kuala Lumpur. Man. We're so close to getting a stake here in Kuala Lumpur. Found for like two hours straight. Had this really good contact with this one guy. He's smoking next to his car, and I ALWAYS ask people smoking, "Brother, how do you feel when you smoke?" Most times they just give the brain-dead zombie stare because the nicotine is literally cooking their brain. So sad every time. I had to ask this guy three times before he answered. This time I asked him I think, "Why do you smoke?" He eventually said, "Since young I've been smoking," or something like that. Elder Stewart comes over and instantly he's like, "Brother, do you want to stop smoking?" He IMMEDIATELY, NO hesitation, said a FIRM yes. I'm like brother read this verse right now. I WHIP out my phone.
Ether 12:27
He read it. I told him, "Brother, you need to come to church and pray so you can actually receive help from God with your struggles." We ended up praying with him and invited him to church. He's super awesome. Miracle. Met this other guy. He bought us ice cream. He said he'd come check out the church. He thought our churches were like the temple and that he wasn't allowed in. Don't know what Tik Tock or Instagram reel he watched to receive that news😭 Like brother, it LITERALLY says, "Visitors Welcome." Anyways, we told him that in this church (since this is literally Jesus Christ's church restored) we have 12 apostles that live and that serve the Lord)
In 2 Ephesians 2:19-20, we read that the church (Paul writing this at the time that Jesus established his church obviously) is built on the foundation of Apostles and Prophets. Why in the WORLD would the Lord (who doesn't change, Hebrews 13:8, not restore his church with a living prophet and apostles) MEMANG GEREJA YESUS KRISTUS ORANG SUCI ZAMAN AKHIR PALING BENAR.
Anyways. We told him to come check our church and I, of course, bore testimony that this is Jesus Christ's restored church. He was super super nice actually. He said he'd bring his wife.
Went back to the church at 6:30 and had miracle share. All the West Malaysia missionaries and Singapore missionaries all in a room. Each blitz companionship goes up to the front and shares a cool miracle they saw that day. Had transfer slides which is always fun. Was just super great to be around Elder Stevens, Elder Barker, Elder Annison, and just so many other missionaries. Saw Elder Lambert. So hebat. Also, this entire day my voice was completely gone from like 4 pm onward. Finding with the raspiest voice. Couldn't even sing "Army of Helaman" with the whole mission because I literally didn't have a voice. Elder Huntley didn't even want to either haha. We both went to the bathroom as we started the rehearsal practice for it because of the music conference happening in this mission this summer. Anyways, I'm sitting alone in the hall outside the chapel and man hearing those missionaries sing "Army of Helaman" was special. Getting alone time, ESPECIALLY, at Zone Conference is impossible. So, sitting there and hearing
"We have been born, as Nephi of old,
To goodly parents who love the Lord.
We have been taught, and we understand,
That we must do as the Lord commands"
Got a little emotional hearing that. Thinking of my parents. Hitting nine months as a missionary on the dot. Another one of those "I've made it pretty far moments" serving in Singapore as well. Anyways, that was a cool moment. Hebat.
Tuesday (2nd day of Zone Conference)
- WHAT A ZONE CONFERENCE IS MY TAKEAWAY. WOWWWWWWW. President and Sister Ho COOKED. The best Zone Conference of my entire mission. Even though my voice was gone mostly, I powered through and just talked as much as I could. But man. Music was great. Talks were great. MLC Trainings from leadership was just awesome. I was locked in the whole day. Didn't even want to sleep. Food was great. MAN. There's just so much I can write about. So many inspirational messages and stuff. Just paling hebat. (the most Awesome)
Love y'all so much. I need to get this email out and maybe I'll write main takeaways from Zone Conference in next week's shorter email. But yeah, I'll let y'all go. Have a great week. This mission is just the best. The Elders here are just so supportive.
Love yall🤟🏻
Semoga success selalu semua🇲🇾🐯
-Elder Barlow🇸🇬🦁
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