China, Chills and another Crazy Week!

Hey! So another crazy week in Puchong... Can I just say that the branch is amazing here? There are so many strong people united as families in the church. And the young men are so strong. It's like a small army of Helaman. On Sunday the YM sang a special musical number, and I got chills... I think the young men here make up about 20% of the branch. God's kingdom is in good hands. They are faithful and support each other in righteousness. They are going to be there for each other and encourage one another as they make their own decisions to serve missions. They are going to be leaders in their future families, communities, the Church... with their humility, strength, love, patience, faithfulness. So awesome.


We have been sharing this video with members lately:
Ukraine Mormon Message


It's sweet. I love the part when the one boy says that he wants to show the prophet that there's a rising generation of youth that can be relied on. I can't believe I am old enough now to recognize the truth of this (21 is old!), but youth really are so, so important and valuable. They are some of the most amazing people ever. And it gives me peace in my heart to see them. I feel a lot of respect and reverence for them and I feel that God trusts them and values them and has been saving them because of how special they are. They are pure and good in a world that is not. They are a shining light. They carry the light of Christ. They are preparing this part of the world to receive a Temple of God, just as Ukraine did in 2010. We are working on that goal, and they are building this country toward that amazing day that will someday arrive. (It has been prophesied by Elder Bednar that before my generation is gone, there will be a Temple dedicated here.) Gives me chills.


The Temple is so insanely cool. I miss it a lot. Here, we talk about it nearly every day because we always talk to Chinese people, to whom ancestors are very much treasured.  I know that families really can be together forever in heaven, through sacred ordinances received in God's Temple. Families are central to God's plan. We can be sealed with our families (dead spouses, children, parents, ancestors we have never met)--through Jesus Christ and the way He's paved for us, no one will be lost. This is so amazing to me! The Temple is the most amazing place. Every time I even watch that video or pictures of the temple, I feel the familiar peace, serenity, whiteness, purity in my heart. Go to the Temple as often as you can.


Also something amazing about China: Elder Perkins, an area seventy here, came here 2 weeks ago (sorry I didn't write about it before now) and a missionary asked him about China being closed to Christianity and missionaries--when he thought China would open. He said, "In my opinion, China is already open." He then explained that in Malaysia, just like many countries, the Gospel is coming to the most humble people and strengthening them and stretching them, but it's hard to find solid leadership when the Church is that young. "God is doing China differently," Elder Perkins said. There are people from mainland China who leave to study in other countries--he mentioned places such as England, France, even Hong Kong etc.--and there, they learn about their Savior, Jesus Christ for the first time, feel the fire of God, and are baptized. These are China's best and brightest people. They are in areas where the Church is strong, so they learn how things should work. How to LEAD. And then they go back to China and continue the work of God. It's incredible. I wish I had time to tell the stories he told us. It gave me CHILLS.


Here in the Puchong branch we have one member (a young single student) from Beijing who met missionaries in Hong Kong and was baptized. She is the purest person I have ever known. She is amazing. She has another friend from China who is coming here in a few weeks, who said she really wants to learn about Jesus Christ. Also tomorrow we have a first appointment with a girl from mainland China who wants to learn about Christ. Most amazing people ever. Like I said just now, it gives me chills.


This is the work of GOD. It amazes me every day. I know it's true, I know it's real. Jesus Christ lives.


Sister Gopinath

Chills, Chills, Chills

Hey!  So another crazy week in Puchong...  Can I just say that the branch is amazing here? There are so many strong people united as families in the church.  And the young men are so strong.  It's like a small army of Helaman.  On Sunday the YM sang a special musical number, and I got chills...  I think the young men here make up about 20% of the branch.  God's kingdom is in good hands.  They are faithful and support each other in righteousness.  They are going to be there for each other and encourage one another as they make their own decisions to serve missions.  They are going to be leaders in their future families, communities, the Church...  with their humility, strength, love, patience, faithfulness.  So awesome. 

We have been sharing this LDS.org video with members lately:


http://tinyurl.com/6whrfds

It's sweet.  I love the part when the one boy says that he wants to show the prophet that there's a rising generation of youth that can be relied on.  I can't believe I am old enough now to recognize the truth of this (21 is old!), but youth really are so, so important and valuable.  They are some of the most amazing people ever.  And it gives me peace in my heart to see them.  I feel a lot of respect and reverence for them and I feel that God trusts them and values them and has been saving them because of how special they are.  They are pure and good in a world that is not.  They are a shining light.  They carry the light of Christ.  They are preparing this part of the world to receive a Temple of God, just as Ukraine did in 2010.  We are working on that goal, and they are building this country toward that amazing day that will someday arrive.  (It has been prophesied by Elder Bednar that before my generation is gone, there will be a Temple dedicated here.)  Gives me chills. 

The Temple is so insanely cool.  I miss it a lot.  Here, we talk about it nearly every day because we always talk to Chinese people, to whom ancestors are very much treasured.   I know that families really can be together forever in heaven, through sacred ordinances received in God's Temple.  Families are central to God's plan.  We can be sealed with our families (dead spouses, children, parents, ancestors we have never met) -- through Jesus Christ and the way He's paved for us, no one will be lost.  This is so amazing to me! The Temple is the most amazing place.  Every time I even watch that video or pictures of the temple, I feel the familiar peace, serenity, whiteness, purity in my heart.  Go to the Temple as often as you can.

Also something amazing about China: Elder Perkins, an area Seventy here, came here 2 weeks ago (sorry I didn't write about it before now) and a missionary asked him about China being closed to Christianity and missionaries--when he thought China would open.  He said, "In my opinion, China is already open.”  He then explained that in Malaysia, just like many countries, the Gospel is coming to the most humble people and strengthening them and stretching them, but it's hard to find solid leadership when the Church is that young.  "God is doing China differently," Elder Perkins said.  There are people from mainland China who leave to study in other countries--he mentioned places such as England, France, even Hong Kong etc.--and there, they learn about their Savior, Jesus Christ for the first time, feel the fire of God, and are baptized.  These are China's best and brightest people.  They are in areas where the Church is strong, so they learn how things should work.  How to LEAD.  And then they go back to China and continue the work of God.  It's incredible.  I wish I had time to tell the stories he told us.  It gave me CHILLS.

Here in the Puchong branch we have one member (a young single student) from Beijing who met missionaries in Hong Kong and was baptized.  She is the purest person I have ever known.  She is amazing.  She has another friend from China who is coming here in a few weeks, who said she really wants to learn about Jesus Christ.  Also tomorrow we have a first appointment with a girl from mainland China who wants to learn about Christ.  Most amazing people ever.  Like I said just now, it gives me chills. 

This is the work of GOD.  It amazes me every day.  I know it's true, I know it's real.  Jesus Christ lives. 

Sister Gopinath 

Elder and Sister Smith

This is a link to a sweet video. A cool look into the Church in this country. I know Elder and Sister Smith, I see them every week :)


http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1138&sid=19354317

Imagine me on a zipline - whee!

Hey! So we just got back from doing this crazy Zone activity... we went to a ropes course/zipline thingy in Shah Alam, about an hour from Puchong. It was intense and way fun, a huge group of sweaty missionaries climbing and ziplining through a rainforest! I wish I could have taken more pictures. It was sweet. We even saw monkeys. Now I am so exhausted. Hopefully I can write something that makes sense... This week was good! Things that have been on my mind lately include the following:


We are still trying to figure out the area--we have found a few good places to find people, but a lot of the area here is very high-security (basically every apartment complex) and the non-secured areas seem to be really dangerous. Haha. But we are slowly figuring it out.


The other day I sat by an African on the bus and all he did was bother me and try to get me to go out with him for a drink. He was behaving like a complete fool. But at that same time, Sister Jensen was sitting right in front talking to an African man with an incredibly sincere heart (I could overhear the conversion). We are meeting him soon. He's Christian and always goes to church but keeps switching churches because he's looking for the truth... family is so important to him, and he is close with his mom and follows her counsel even though he is already 27. He was awesome. It was great to meet someone honest and trying to do what is right and who loves God and loves their family.


Also, we've done quite a bit of contacting lately, as our plans fall through rather consistently :) I have always disliked contacting people on the street/knocking on people's doors, because it's not very effective and not fun either, but sometimes that's all you can do--plan C is the only option. So we do it. And I'm starting to hate it less. I always dislike the idea but once you start doing it, it starts getting fun. And when people slam the door in your face or make rude hand gestures when you say the name "Jesus Christ," it's not discouraging anymore--a lot of times it's funny because it's cliche. So it helps a lot to 1) see the humor in daily life, because there is a LOT of it and it can bless you as you see it! And 2) to just work. Just do it and it'll feel good at the end of the day if you tried your best, no matter how it turned out.


I feel like on my mission I'm learning a lot of things that I've heard people talk about. Patience, faith, humor, hard work, love, etc... so many things.  But the thing is that I never really knew what they were talking about until I came out here and felt it myself. I didn't realize how much growing up I have to do. This is the best place I could be right now. I know that for sure.


Also the other day, a guy whose door we knocked on asked if I really believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, if I really believed that He died for all of my sins, if I really believed that he rose again on the third day. He was skeptical. I was able to respond to him with power beyond my own that I know with all of my heart and then some, even all of my soul, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is my Savior because of the infinite sacrifice He made for me. I know and feel that with everything I am. I have discovered that on my mission more deeply. I have felt personally the effects of His Atonement on my life individually. I know it's real.


I know He lives.


Sister Gopinath

Dangerous, Crazy, Amazing and Sweet!

So this week was crazy.


Something interesting happens every day.  Puchong is so different than KK.  Everyone is Indian, Malaysian Chinese, or Nigerian... and this week I also met people from Myanmar and Cambodia.  So sweet!!!  It's amazing here.  Every day is exciting.  People are CRAZY! And awesome as well.


First off it's a lot more dangerous than KK was!  Sister Jensen and I got followed halfway home by an enormous Nigerian man the other night... but luckily the Elders in the next area over had been with us earlier and (miraculously) hadn't yet gotten on the bus home, so we went into a restaurant, sat down, and called them to come walk us home.  The guy saw us with the Elders and didn't follow us.  It was intense but the Lord definitely was with us protecting us.


When we contact people, it's rare that they know anything about Jesus Christ.  I could never have imagined an actual place where people don't know.  It's hard because a lot of people are not interested because they hold onto their traditions--maybe they come from a family of Buddhism, and although they have never learned about Jesus Christ, they are closed to it because they don't understand what it means or how it can help them.   But then there are others who are curious and interested--somehow the seed has been planted.


It has been a huge blessing to me this week as I've focused my studies and thoughts and teaching on 1) Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and 2) eternal families.  In Kota Kinabalu, I felt that I was bringing the message of the glorious Restoration--at least, that is what I most frequently bore testimony of--and here I feel I will bear testimony first of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world, and of the fact that through Jesus Christ, our families can be bound together in this life and in the next life. (Same message ultimately, but different focus because most people's needs are different here.)  It's so humbling.  So many people will hear a testimony of Jesus Christ for the first time in their lives, from me and Sister Jensen.  All of the people we are teaching right now come either from a Buddhist or Hindu background.  I feel I am truly being given an opportunity to learn to teach and speak simply and deeply.  To testify simply, clearly, and boldly of Jesus Christ.  This is an amazing situation that God has put me in.  I still am trying to figure out how to best do it but I know God will help me.


Also the branch here in incredible.  The members are amazing.  Our branch is mostly Chinese with a lot of Indians... and there are so many FAMILIES.  This is a branch full of families.  It's so sweet!  They are solid and I am so excited to work with the people here.  There are like 15 really strong young men in our branch, also.  The priesthood is way strong here, which is amazing.  I'm so excited to be a missionary here.


My time is up now but next week I will tell (and have) more stories... I love my life!  The Gospel is true! Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and I KNOW that without a doubt.


Sister Gopinath

Hello from Puchong!

Hey! So I got unexpectedly transferred... it's a longer story than it should be. So there's this area outside of Kuala Lumpur called Klang that (I hear) was struggling a little bit, so President Clark decided he wanted to move in a pair of Sisters to try to help the area. So the AP's called Friday night and said I was being sent to whitewash Klang with Sister Jensen and that I was leaving on Tuesday morning. Crazy! I asked everyone to tell me about Klang, so they did and I got SO excited!!! Klang is (basically) the Nigerian branch! Sister Song, since there was no sister that could come to replace me, also got transferred to Penang. On Sunday we found out we were actually leaving on Monday morning, cutting out a lot of the plans we'd made to prepare to leave... so we left without saying goodbye to quite a few people. But I guess that's just how transfers tend to be.


So I get to KL and I'm staying with the Sisters in main KL (since my companion hadn't arrived yet), and we find out that I am not actually going to Klang, but an area called Puchong. Apparently they decided that Klang was too dangerous an area for sisters to be in, so the Elders from Puchong are going to Klang and we're replacing the Puchong Elders.


What I know so far about Puchong (we got here last night) is that there are a lot of Chinese and Indian people.  There are also a few Nigerians as well. The area seems to be more of a suburban town outside of Kuala Lumpur (maybe 40 minutes from the city), definitely more developed than KK. I will be speaking English here, which actually will be awkward for a few days :) The Elders left us a nice little pool of investigators.  I feel like this area is far less Christian than what I'm used to--a lot of Buddhists and also Hindu (we heard a Hindu man praying this morning). It's going to be a really different experience, and I am so excited!!


It was so hard to leave KK.  I shed a few tears.  I truly love and admire the people I got a chance to get to know, and hopefully serve. There are so many people there who have touched me and left me different because I knew them.  I have met some of the strongest people I've ever known there. I have deep respect for so many of the people--members, investigators, people who I only met a few times. Sister Song and I left quite a few people who we really LOVED and it was so sad that we won't be the ones who get to teach them and see them baptized.  (I guess that is normal for missionaries, though.) But I know that the Lord (and the Elders!) will continue to watch over His children there.


So, sidenote... this isn't about my area... but I spent 24 hours in the KL city and FELL IN LOVE. I'm so going back there someday.  It's INCREDIBLE.  Like no city I ever imagined.  The diversity is INSANE! So many Indians and Africans and people from little Asian countries I'd never heard of... I talked to one lady from a country in Europe I'd never heard of, I saw a ton of people from... EVERYWHERE.  It was like being in the entire world at one time.  I felt like I was in an incredible dream.  The feeling in Kuala Lumpur is unlike anything else. So colorful, so rich, so full of SOUL. The buildings are also incredible, and also colorful. The food... ah!  Everything is just... so extremely cool.  I never knew a place like that even existed. It is my new favorite city.


Okay.  Now that you know a little bit of how cool KL is... now back to Puchong.  I'm super excited to be here and I know I'm going to learn a ton.  Sister Jensen, my new companion, is my first American companion since I got into the field :) It's going to be fun!  She is a really fun person.  She stands out pretty well, being blonde and having big blue eyes.  She's way cool though.


That's about all I have time for... next week I'm sure there will be more exciting stories!


Love you all!  Pray always! Never let yourself feel for a moment that you don't want to pray. If you are not in the mood to pray--no matter what you are doing--you need to stop, pray until you feel like praying (quote by Brigham Young), and then continue on in that spirit of prayer.  Prayer should be an integral, fundamental part of our lives. I have been thinking about that lately--how mine needs to be a prayerful heart.  Without prayer we fall shamefully short of our potential in every aspect of our lives.  Prayer lifts us up above this world, bringing us to heights we would never reach on our own.  It is medicine for the hurting heart.  It is the song of the grateful. It's a powerful and precious gift.  I love prayer!


Sister Gopinath

Another Week IN KK

Hello!  It's been a good couple of days here.  Learning a lot of things that are hard to put into words... I feel like me getting a hold on things is almost within grasp... not that I've almost got it, but that I'm at the point where I can visualize myself "getting it."  Hahaha. It's progress, I promise.  Also probably means I'm due for a transfer sometime soon. :(

Something I can put into words... hmm.  Lately been trying to be more patient/not feel discouraged when people cancel their appointments.  MOST of the time these days, our appointments don't go through.  Everyone is flaky, and the non-flaky ones always have things come up last-minute.  It's easy to get discouraged, because there are days (like yesterday) when we have a full schedule, but it all falls apart at the very last minute so we just end up tracting instead (which is one of the least productive activities).  It's frustrating.  But I am learning patience.  Before the mission, I had no idea what the meaning of the word "patient" was, or how deep it went.  Patience and faith have been everything to me lately.  (Actually after I typed that last sentence, someone called and cancelled an important appointment we'd had for tonight.)  I'm trying to exercise faith (believe and act upon that belief) that there's still something important I'm here for.  We find people to teach, and they want and are interested, but other things come up and they say they don't have time/have to go somewhere else.  It really tests my patience.  But I feel like I'm slowly getting it.  I have to have faith that things are in the Lord's hands, that good things are to come, that he does have an important work for me to do here that maybe I just cannot see in the moment.

In a district meeting last week, Elder Petersen shared a talk with us--"Continue in Patience" by President Uchtdorf.  It was so good.  You should all read it.  One thing I really liked was it talked about patience not as a passive thing, but as an active "enduring well."  Continuing to press on, not standing still/waiting until the storm passes, but a determined continuing of the journey.  We must not only endure, but endure well.  President Uchtdorf says it better than me though, so you should just read it.  Here is the link:

http://tinyurl.com/7ydx6na

Patience is a huge part of any happy/successful life, I think.  There are always things that try our patience--even if it is being patient with our own selves.  Luke 21:19 says "In your patience possess ye your souls."  Think about it... it's so very true.  Patient people have themselves.  Even when other things/trials are going on that could mess with them, as they endure well--with patience--they are blessed and strengthened.  Patience is powerful.  I think it helps us to learn more quickly what we were meant to learn from every trial we meet.

That's about it.  I love the Gospel, I know it's true.  I believe in continuing revelation, and thus, a true prophet of God that receives revelation from the Master Himself.  God always answers sincere prayers.  Keeping the commandments brings the blessings of Heaven.  I know that from experience.  Families are a gift from God and Jesus Christ has provided a way for us to make that precious unit everlasting.  For more information, visit www.mormon.org.  :)

Sister Gopinath