Sunday night - Elder G writing

It has been some time since I have written anything, so I guess I should. I think of things to write while it is happening and then I don't write, and I forget what I wanted to say. About three weeks ago we went to Kuala Lumpur for a zone conference. We did not drive, but took a taxi from our apt. to the bus station at Larkin and than took a quite nice bus for about four or five hours to the destination. It cost about $11 each for the bus. We met two other senior couples there and quite enjoyed exchanging war stories with them. It was quite good for us to find that they are experiencing some of the same frustrations that we have felt. That being finding our way around, not being able to talk with anyone because of not knowing he language, organizing our time, not being updated on what we should be doing and when, what conferences we are invited to attend, and so on and so on. Anyway it was a good conference and the Mission President has an amazing command of the language and has a great understanding of the Gospel and able to convey the ideas and gospel principles in an excellent way. The bus ride was wonderful in that I cannot think of ever going through more beautiful country. The Jungle areas of foliage was breathtaking. Undergrowth so thick one would have a hard time walking through it. And the many species of trees and bushes all tangled together, some short and some really tall and all in between. I cannot describe how incredible it is. We met in the same building that Morris and Ruth Ann lived in while they were here. That was way exciting for us.

We went to Singapore for another conference this last weekend and it too was special with our mission president and Elder Pratt, A general authority teaching. But another white knuckle experience of finding our way around. We, I think, learned how to use the mass transit trains to get around in Singapore and next time it will be better. We spent an extra day with the Carpenters (a couple from Perry, Utah) who are neighbors of Neldon and Utahna. We did some site seeing in the city, which was fun and interesting. The Carpenters are going home this week.

We are getting around here in Johor Bahru better now and I am learning to drive on the left side of the road with the steering and controls on the wrong side of the car. When I make a turn quite often I switch on the wind shield wipers instead of the turn signal. Oh well, haven't wrecked yet. Nyla thinks that I am learning to drive like the Malaysians. Crazy!!! There are an extimated 10,000 motos (motor bikes) travel the roads each day and they don't stop for stop signs or stay in lanes. They just zip around where ever there is a tiny space. Nyla says that lanes and stop signs and traffic laws are just suggestions.

We are still having baptisms almost every week and the Iban people are really grasping the truth of the Gospel. That is surely gratifying to see and experience. They are really fun people and the kids all call us grandpa and grandma, but they can't say it plain. We can now offer a simple prayer and testimony (slowly) in Malay, and and are putting in a great effort to learn the language as fast as we can. Nyle much faster than me. Nyla is teaching English on Saturday mornings and piano lessons. She is starting seminary classes this week. I am teaching Gospel Doctrine, Institute lessons, and the missionary lessons to newly baptized members.

Enough already

Elder Gregory