E/Gregory 3/20/11

I think that we are settling in a little bit. Our biggest challenge is scheduling someone to go with us to translate while we teach the after baptism lessons. Most of the members work 10 to 12 hours a day and are not available. And most of the new converts cannot speak English. We are learning some Malay Language, but still cannot carry on a conversation. Last night a man from India was baptized. He speaks a little English. We helped teach him a couple of missionary lessons and it was fun for us to see him baptized. He has been Hindu, but his girl friend told him that she wants to marry him, but will only do so in the temple, so he just showed up at church one Sunday and said that he wanted to learn about the Church. I hope and think that he has gained a testimony and will stick. They will have to wait a year to get married in the temple. A Chinese man, whose wife and daughter joined the Church almost 10 years ago, came up to us a couple of weeks ago and said that it is now time for him to be taught the gospel and be baptized. He asked us if we would teach him and baptize him. We taught him a couple of lessons and then took the Elders with us and turned the teaching over to them, as it should be. We hope that he follows through. He has committed to baptism in three weeks. He has been practicing Buddhism and other Non-Christian Religions. We always have everyone over for dinner after the baptism and usually about 25 people come. Challenging to Nyla, but I think she enjoys it when everyone comes. In last night's baptism, the missionary who did the baptizing got him just out of the water and couldn't bring him all the way up. He slipped and they both went back under the water. Big splash - everyone got a chuckle. In the last year there have been 52 baptisms in this little branch.

One of the reasons is that most of the converts are Iban tribe people and the missionaries have not spoken the language before that So, now the Gospel is being spread in their language. There is still no literature in Malay nor Iban. Not even the Book of Mormon. We use Indonesian literature which is somewhat understood. And Iban language is not even a written language.

Today in Church the talks and lessons were taught in Chinese, Iban, Malay and English. Missionaries and other members translate to those who need it and rotate all around as needed. There is a voice buzz constantly from the whispering translators. The Spirit is kind of lost with all that going on, but what can you do?

We bought an old car thinking that even with some repairs we wouldn't lose as much money when we leave and sell it. We will have to sell it to a used car dealership as we have never seen a car for sell by the owner. Any way, we had to have the brake shoes changed and the oil and filter changed and the door handle fixed as the door wouldn't open, and one head light fixed with new wiring, all without electronic testing computers. (all done the old fashioned way, by hand by a man one of the members knows) It took him about a hour and one half to do all that and changed belts and put in fluid in several places. I was quite impressed. The whole thing cost $50. I tried to pay more, but he wouldn't take it.

We gave two lessons after church tonight. One on the first principles of the Gospel to our investigator and one on Temples and Family History to a new member. We buy the materials and put together a simple book of remembrance for each new member and then show them how to do a pedigree chart and family group sheet. (Evelyn - you'd be proud of us again!) Interesting because they mostly have no family records written and and have no clue beyond their parents. We tell them to talk with grand parents and estimate dates and etc. if their grand parents are still alive. Just do the best they can. This particular member has a grandfather still living in Sarawak who was a member of a head hunter tribe. He hunted Japanese during World War II. Now I'll bet there are some great family history stories there to record.

We also dropped in on two other families on our way home. This is getting too long. Some time I will tell of our weekly schedule. We have every night this next week scheduled with at least one appointment. Not busy in the mornings or early afternoons, except for study and preparations.

We think of home constantly and in a lot of ways look forward to returning. We appreciate knowing everything happening. And share with all our family and loved ones the joy of positive events and experiences and agonize with you over things that aren't positive. We pray for you constantly and love you beyond description. We will return!!!

Dad