Thursday, November 27, 2008

Baptism # 3...4... 5... 6!!!


Happy Thanksgiving!

We've had an awesome week, mainly because we had the baptism of the Figueiredo family on Saturday! Unfortunately, when I baptized the kids, Thomas and Alex, I left my camera in my pocket and it was destroyed, so I'll only be able to put up/send a photo out in the next week or two after I've got a new camera.

I guess that since I started talking about the Figueiredo's baptism, I might as well go on about it now. Well, earlier in the day, we had a ward activity at the Botanical Gardens. As we were walking in, Elder Wright spotted them, minus Thomas, but with an extra man in their group. It turns out that the man was Carlos Martins, the person who introduced them to the Church in Brazil. He had flown 36 from Brazil to Singapore just for their baptism and confirmation. It was wonderful to meet him, and it was great that he was there! The ward picnic was really fun, and we got to relax, eat, and just have some fun and games.

The baptismal service was amazing. Seeing that family in white was like looking into the future where we will all be dressed in white. There were some great talks given. Simone, the mother, was the one who first learned about the Church and propelled the family in the right direction. She really felt the Spirit, and it was wonderful to see in her countenance, her belief and knowledge that was she was about to participate in was the best thing that she could ever do. The baptisms went off without a hitch, and there were some wonderful testimonies borne, along with a great welcome by Bishop Nef, my home ward Bishop :). My parents were able to make it to watch the baptism, that made it all the better. The Figeuiredo Family is wonderful, and I can't wait to see how they grow in the gospel as they are sealed together in the temple as a family and onward. I can't wait to see Thomas and Alex, their two boys, go on missions and serve the Lord, because I know that they will be amazing!

We have a great new investigator named Belle, who's Singaporean Indian.She was passed to us by Elder Hoare. She's a little skeptical and defensive, but she's really genuinely wanting to search for the truth. She's one of my favorite investigators because she's assertive in a very confident and bubbly way.

Right now, we have this golden investigator named Joseph who we've set a baptismal for December 13th. He's an Indian man from... India who is now a permanent resident here. He's trying to save up money to get his family to Singapore. But, when he first got here, his agent and the company that he worked for cheated him of his salary and left him to the dumps. He has a degree but is now working at a 7-11. I feel so bad for those people, but I feel even more disgusted when I think of those people who cheat their own human beings. He's been having a hard time, but he's getting comfort in the knowledge that the Lord knows all things and that it will eventually all work out. We're really blessed to have him as an investigator. He's a genuinely nice guy, and a family man.

Other than that, we've had a pretty normal week. A couple dinner appointments here and there, and we've been working with Peter to make sure that he doesn't miss Church. Oh, we've changed our tactics of finding new investigators. We are now going to be going full out in using the members in the ward now. It's now the holiday season, so we're going to get them to start having their friends meet with us, and share the gospel with them. It's the perfect time too now anyhow, it is the Christmas season.

Well, we're going to head of to our Thanksgiving lunch at the Church now, then probably head off to the beach at Sentosa for some games and relaxation!

The Christmas season is starting up over here already! The missionaries are starting to receive their Christmas packages! Apparently, there are Flat Rate boxes going at $38.95 from USPS the States to Singapore that's decent sized. So, if you wanted to know that... :P

Have a wonderful week! Take care and God bless!

Love, Elder Chua

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

"My Country"

Hi everyone, It's been a pretty normal week. We've just had some teaching appointments, and we've also spent a bit of time contacting. I guess there's nothing really too much to report! Benn working with my new companion, Elder Wright, it's a little bit of a challenge, but I'm learning to develop more humility, patience, and charity as I try my best to serve him the best that I can.

For the past two Sundays, Jeff and Tyler Showalter, some close family friends, were in town from New York. I spent a summer with them a couple of years ago doing an internship. It was wonderful to see them. It really is amazing how time flies! I just love having friends in the gospel!

I had a wonderfully spiritual experience in District Meeting yesterday. Elder Colvin's training was on being "Called to Serve." He first showed us a video called "An Ensign to the Nations," which talked about the pioneers of the Church around the world. One part talked about a prophecy made by a Maori Wise Man who prophesied about the LDS missionaries coming. After that, he showed the segment on Asia, about the dedication of Hong Kong, and about Dr. Kim, a Korean who was instrumental in building and starting the Church in Korea. He put his reputation on the line for the Church, in a country where "face" means everything. After that, we read the dedicatory prayer of Singapore, which was given by Elder Ezra Taft Benson, then of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, later prophet of the Lord. As we read it paragraph by paragraph, I really felt the Spirit. As I read the paragraph I was assigned to, I broke down because I finally realized that the Lord has called me to serve in Singapore for a reason. This is my country, these are my fellow countrymen, and I feel that it is such a privilege to serve them, even though they might not want it. Where ever we are called to on our missions is where the Lord needs us to go because he knows that there are certain people in the world that we have been specifically called to minister to. ,being able to serve in my own country. The Stake President has a desire to see Singapore have two Stakes, so that we can petition for a temple. I pray that the work will go forth, which will them enable this miracle.

This particular quote by President Hinckley has really inspired me. It goes, "To missionaries: Go forward. Do your work. It's so very, very important. You have on your narrow shoulders the responsibility of teaching the gospel to a world that doesn't want it. At least they think they don't want it because they haven't tasted of it. And for many, many of those people you are the only source of knowledge they will ever have of this Church. It is so very important that you make a good appearance. Someday someone might well say, 'Well, yes, I met two of your missionaries years ago and I've been thinking about it ever since then. Come in and tell me what you have to offer.' Go forward with faith and without fear."Well, do hope to hear from you all sometime. Christmas is just around the corner! Well, Thanksgiving than Christmas. Do think about what missionaries "away" from home love for Christmas! :P

Love, Elder Chua

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

"Beware of Pride"

Hey Everyone,

This past week has been pretty busy! First off, I had that change of companions! I now have Elder Wright, from Draper, Utah as my companion. It's my first time being Senior Companion so it's definitely a new challenge, especially since he has been a year out longer than me! I was also District Leader for a few days when they were reorganizing the districts so I got to give District training yesterday! I trained the missionaries on how to live a better life as individuals, which translates into them being better missionaries.

Anyhow, we've had a pretty good week. We had a wonderful appointment with the Figueiredo family, our Brazilian family that is getting baptized in less than two weeks. We're just about done teaching them all the lessons, and we'll be going over the baptismal interview questions with them tonight. We really are so excited because of the faith that they have, and for the love or the gospel!

We were able to meet up with Prasanth, though he was an hour late. So, we had a talk with him about whether or not he really knows it's true, whether or not he really wanted to learn since he always seemed to be missing appointments. He said that he really did believe that all we've taught is true. We're working with him to be able to talk to his family. He's a wonderful kid and we really do believe that he can be baptized by the end f the year. We had a man named Chen from Malaysia who we met up with, who was really nice. But the only reason why he met was because he promised to meet us again. He said that unless there is scientific proof, he's not willing to accept what we teach him. I just think it's sad how some people aren't willing to have faith, how unwillingly there are to see all that is around them, and put their trust in the Lord.

We had Zone Conference this past week! It was amazingly wonderful as usual, and President Skelton taught us about the Plan of Salvation, emphasizing judgement, and how we really need to live our lives in such a way that we can be prepared and clean and judgement day and be able to say confidently that we have "fought the good fight."

One thing that I have really learned this week is about humility. This morning, I was reading a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson about pride, and he talked about how pride is the thing that most keeps the children of God away from their Heavenly home. As I thought about it, and reflected on it, I came to realize just how proud I've been all these years, with my parents, my family, my friends, and all those around me. My resolve is to do my best to humble.

President Benson said that for men, "The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. “What will men think of me?” weighs heavier than “What will God think of me?”"

Along with that, he just talked more about pride and how it can really destroy us. I just hope and pray that I will be able to do my best to be humble, and not think that I'm one cut about the rest, that I do not always have to be better than someone, or be the person that another person wants me to be. Rather, I hope that I will be able to become the person who God wants me to be, and be able to return to live with Him and my family in joy and peace foe eternity.

I have to head off, but thanks for those who take the time to read this! Do write! Thanks for the letters to those who have written!

Love,
Elder Ee Chien Chua

Thursday, November 6, 2008

"New"

Had a great week thisa week. It was a little long since preparation day was a day leter, but other than that, awesome! We had a whole bunch of appointments that cancelled on us this weeek, but it actually worked out really well because the work has been pretty crazy!


We taught Jennifer again, this time with Elder Pace. We also brought a member, Sister Lai, who has a daughter right around the same age as Jennifer's. We started theb lesson off, and discussed the beginning parts of the Restoration. We thought that it was going really well. But, when we got to the First Vision, she suddenly asked, "Why are you pushing this religion on me?" We were really surprised and asked her what she was asking. She then told us that she thought that we were just meeting as friends. I guess there was a huge misunderstanding between us. Unfortunately, she then proceeded to rudely tell us how close minded we were, and how we needed to loosen up. Of course, we tried explaining it to her, and offered her a copy of the Book of Mormon, but she said that she would never read it or convert, and continued talking rubbish about how closed we were to the world. We were just really sad about the whole incident, and it just made me see hoe close minded some people are, who think they are better than others, judge them, and refuse to look at the world around them. It was definitely an eye opener to part of the world around me.


On Saturday, we had to start packing. Elder Pace had to pack for the transfer, and I had to pack because I've just moved to an apartment that is a lot more convenient for our area. I'm now living with the Mandarin Elders.


We went over to the Govindasamy's for their Deepavali dinner, and had a great time over there. It was wonderful food, and we were able to fellowship them. In addition, they invited their non-member friends over and we were able to talk to some of them about the Church. One of the men that ElderPace talked to was an inactive members, and we learned that he left the Church because his girlfriend had said she would marry him, but went to BYU and married someone else instead. Elder Pace just had a good chat with him about the Church. Hopefully that man will see the light again someday.


On Sunday, Elder Pace and I both bore our testimonies, had Church and all that, and, that night, had dinner at a member's home. That night, Elder Kwok (who transferred to Kuching) and I packed to past midnight. Elder Pace packed till right around then too. The next day, we headed over to the Church and said our goodbyes. Headed back home to unpack and all that, then headed back to the office. There, we found out that Elder Hoare and I were only going to be companions for five days. We were so looking forward to be companions, so it was sad that we were able to be companions longer. Elder Hoare will be heading up to Penang, and one of the Elders from Penang is headed here. We asked why we had to have the transfer, and they said that it was for the best of the mission. My new companion will be Elder Wright, and I'm going to be the senior companion, even though my new companion has been on a mission a year longer than me. President Skelton said that I just have to step up and be a leader now, and be loving, so I will have to do my best. Do pray for me!

We've been passed the Brazilian family that I originally contacted, and their baptism date is set for November 22nd, so it is going to be awesome! I'm so excited!


We've spent the last few days just doing some contacting and planning. Haven't been able to plan too well these past couple of weeks with same companion, so it's going to be a crazy week next week!

Well, do write! I would love to receive more letters!