No Effort Is Wasted - All Service Is Service to God

So Chinese New Year is almost over.  It was cool to be here for that but I'm so glad it's about done with. I thought holidays as a missionary would be awesome, but actually it's not because everyone we have to teach can't meet or went back to their villages far away to be with family.  So it's a little lonely and I get antsy.  But the fireworks were pretty cool--I watched them from Elder and Sister Larson's house (they're the senior couple here), and they live in a tower so we saw, from above, about 6 different places all doing fireworks. It was a beautiful few minutes.

Okay... so my favorite thing = really good lessons.  There's this great man named Ichabod that we've been meeting every now and then, but it's really hard to meet with him because of his work schedule.  We go weeks without seeing him, so he hasn't been progressing very fast at all, but he reads the Bible every day and also the Book of Mormon.  He comes to church whenever he doesn't have work and always comments to me about how he loves and learns from the talks at church.  Yesterday he texted us asking us to meet, because he didn't have work that day, and so I prayed a lot before that lesson and had a very spiritual time preparing, I had a really good feeling about meeting him.  When we met him, he was very happy (he's been very happy lately whenever I do see him).  He received whatever we teach so thoughtfully.  We began to teach him about faith and how faith in Christ leads us to action.  He somehow started talking about his feelings about the church... like about how the last few months he's come here instead of his old church.  He said it was interesting because even though his old church is a lot closer to him, and thus easier to go to on Sundays, he's lost his desire to go there and just wants to come to the Church of Jesus Christ.  He said he's noticed a "change" since he's been coming to this church.  Something inside of him.  He said he's been thinking on his own about being baptized (!!!!!).  He expressed a few thoughts about how he's already been baptized in another church and how this church hasn't yet reached his village in Indonesia, but we bore testimony of the restored priesthood power and how he still needs to be baptized by someone holding priesthood authority.  He agreed.  We also told him how although he might be the first from his village to accept the gospel, the church WILL be in his village someday.  He said he wants to think and pray about being baptized (committed himself).  We gave him 2 Nephi 31 to read and pray about, which he received gratefully.  The Spirit was strong.  He knows this is the true Church of Jesus Christ, and it was amazing to see how the Spirit has been working on him the past few weeks as he's come to church, read, and prayed.  It was the best lesson I'd ever been to with him.  Gonna keep following up and trying to meet him soon.


Also Flower is amazing, getting baptized on Saturday.  She was a referral from one of the branch presidency (who is like 21 years old--she's 22).  She is like a member already... she understands so deeply, she is so spiritual, willing to serve, comes to everything, always taking notes, hungry to read the word of God, and is quick to share her testimony.  Her testimony of prayer is rock solid. Her family isn't totally supportive, but the opposition has strengthened her testimony.  She's told them "I know that what I'm doing is right."  And she really, really does. She's already made the decision to serve a mission, which I find incredible.  After she's baptized she wants to come out and teach with us whenever she can. She was so, so prepared to receive the restored Gospel.  We had a really great lesson about temples with her.  The Spirit was strong and we each joyfully made a resolve to keep the temple in our sights, live worthily, and get there as soon as possible.


Ah.  It's so great.  I truly get to spend time with some of the most exceptional people in the world.


Mosiah 2:17 teaches that when we serve those around us, we are serving God. I'm beginning to realize that whatever I do now for others will be accepted by God, even if it's not accepted by the person I was trying to serve.  No effort is wasted because all service is service to God, who will, of course, freely accept my love.


God answers prayers.  This is His church.  I know that for myself, independently of the opinions of others. Our testimony grows as we share it with others.  Let it shine.


Love,
Sister Gopi

Hello Sekajap, Visa Run, and Heartache

Hey, sorry this email is late and shorter.  This week I went to Singapore for 2 days to renew my visa, so I was really busy.  Singapore is such a cool city.  I would live there I think... except for how expensive it is.  I ate dragonfruit (beautiful and tastes like a giant mild kiwi! so good!!),



bonded with some incredible/hilarious fellow missionaries there, talked to some memorable people, missed my original booked flight back but still made it back to KK after much worrying.


It got me thinking a lot about wealth and material things.  As a missionary I have thought about things in a different way, for some reason.  I guess I have seen some very poor people here in KK, and then some very rich people in other places.  Material things are so kosong, empty.  They appear so fulfilling and desirable, but do not satisfy.  It creates a false sense of security and leads us to neglect of our spiritual needs.  Maybe when we have an excess of material things, we are less aware of our need for God.  I wrote a longer "essay" on this in a notebook on the plane.  I need to think more about this.  But Singapore got me thinking, because it's such a "warehouse."  Lots of new buildings and high-quality things.  But at the end of the day there's no substance to it, and we must not let things like that distract us from our true purpose in life--which, in the end, has nothing to do with material things.


Also I've been thinking about how this work is so in God's hands.  He is the one who is working among people.  I will never teach someone who God has not been working on for years--I alone cannot change anyone, or bring someone to a point where they're ready to come closer to Christ.  Missionaries alone are powerless.  They're a tool, a small important link in a chain, a defining paragraph in a novel.  But God is doing a great work, and missionaries are important.  The Lord is working with His Spirit among His children 24/7, while missionaries only work during the day.  It's like in Jacob 5:72.  The Lord labors with us all.  It's His work.


Leaving KK for a day and a half was kind of a time also to reflect on my experiences the last 3 months.  It was an opportunity to appreciate all the miracles I've seen here, and forgive KK for all of the heartache (disappointment doesn't cut it) I've experienced here as well.  Just let it go and realize it's a process, and everything has happened the way it's supposed to.  Amazing things have happened, as well as awful things.  All of it is for my good.  I trust the Lord.  Missionary work really does break your heart, regularly, and I'm not exaggerating.  But I pray for patience and love and faith, and I'm always blessed with enough of it, and can make it.  The Lord is my light.


Hopefully this email made a little bit of sense, even though these are things just bouncing around in my head lately.  There's nowhere and no one I'd rather be right now.  Our purpose here on this earth is truly grand.  Everything choice we make matters so much.  Our families matter so much.  The Word of Wisdom was inspired of God.  The Book of Mormon is His word, and I know that directly from God.  Just the other day I prayed with a sincere heart to know again that the Book of Mormon is true, and I felt the light of Heaven illuminate and nourish my soul.  I know it is everything it claims to be, it is from God.  It nourishes me like nothing else as it teaches the teachings of Christ and testifies of Him.  I'm honored to have been sent into the world to testify of the same One.


Sister Gopinath

Walking a Little Taller

Hello again!  This has been a long, and crazy week.  Working with Sister Song is great!  She is so open and fearless and sweet and talks to everyone. She is a big strength to me and we complement each other well--she is surely strong where I am weak.  I'm so blessed she was sent here!  I am trying learn some Chinese from here, I hear it a lot more often these days :)


Okay so first of all our area DOUBLED in size today. They took out a pair of Elders from KK :( so we sisters are taking over their area, which I am very unfamiliar with, and also which is very far away!  It's a little overwhelming but we are inheriting a couple of solid investigators from them, which is always great for us. So it's gonna be a new adventure trying to learn the new area.  It's so. so. big.  Ahhh!  But I'm excited too, I feel like good things are gonna happen.  It's pretty exciting as well.  We're gonna be busier.


It's been brought to my attention by Sister Song that I look down all the time--when I pause to think during lessons, and also I look at the floor when I walk to make sure I don't step on anything weird. I've been working to change that this last week, it's made much bigger of a difference than I expected. I feel different. I feel stronger. Looking up, walking a little taller (although I already feel so awkwardly tall here), looking people more directly in the eye... it's changing the way I think. You should try it.

Do you wanna hear about my favorite lesson we had this week?  There's this girl who is living with an active member family (solid. member. referral.) and she has come to church twice. Her name is Dana. She is 19 years old and very mature, we met her on Sunday and scheduled an appointment with her. We traveled over an hour on a very hot sweaty bus to get to the spa she works at--run by the same member family--so we taught her in the back of a spa. A very tranquil environment, dark purple walls and purple drapes throughout the room. Quite an exciting venue. Dana is really sweet and seemed a little shy, but as we taught her she opened up more and felt comfortable asking questions. We learned she's read the Book of Mormon up to around 2 Nephi 4, just on her own, without even knowing what the Book of Mormon was. She said she felt that it contained a lot of things that were relevant to her life, but she didn't know what the Book of Mormon really was or where it came from or what it meant. We taught her how to pray, shared the Restoration and her face lit up as she learned why there were so many churches, for she said "There are so many different churches, but I could never find one that could open my heart.  Now I know why, and now I finally feel  like I've found one."  The Spirit was strong, she accepted the invitation to pray about the Book of Mormon. I then told her that one way we get closer to God is by obeying His commandments, and one commandment is baptism. She said she'd never been baptized in any other church, so I invited her to be baptized in a few weeks.  She happily accepted, I might even use the word thrilled. We picked a date, and she expressed concern not knowing how to prepare. We told her it was just going to be through meeting with us so we could teach her, and doing things like praying and reading and going to church. We assured her we'd be there with her every step of the way. She then gave her first verbal prayer, and it was so heartfelt. It was so cool. It was one of those times where I felt like, this is why I'm here, this is what it's about. I felt edified, and know Dana did too.


We've met a lot of people this week... and we keep meeting more.  We keep going forward. We're focusing on getting referrals from members, and so far it's looking like a really good thing. Referrals really are the way to go.


I was reading a talk by Elder Holland today "The Ministry of Angels". I was really touched and was reminded that the Lord really does extend heavenly help to us regularly.  Heaven IS near, not far away.  We can be reminded of that by remembering that everything good in our lives come from God directly, and by praying often and sincerely.  President Monson said, "Prayer is the passport to Spiritual power."


Stay strong! Remember to pray!


Sister Gopinath

Coolest, Hardest and Best

Hi!  :)

So first of all, can I say that this is the best mission in the world?   Our goal for 2011 was to see 800 baptisms.  November came and we were WAY short, like in need of a serious miracle.  I honestly didn't think it would happen, and it was out of our control, which was wrong thinking on my part.  But we set big goals and all of the missionaries worked harder with faith.  We came out with 813 people who made the decision to be baptized last year.  Seemed completely impossible.  We were super blessed.  Faith precedes the miracle.  I can apply this to the work I do here on a weekly basis.  So just wanted to give you a hint of how cool all the people (locals and missionaries as well) here are.


Sister Wong went home.   :(   What a change.  It's so different here without her.  She was absolutely the trainer I needed--Heavenly Father knows me perfectly.  Sister Wong is awesome because a missionary is truly who she is.  There is no such thing as her two sides, the missionary Sister Wong and the real Sister Wong...  the missionary Sister Wong IS the real Sister Wong.   Amazing.  She'll be sorely missed, and has done SO MUCH good throughout her missionary service.


My new companion's name is Sister Song :) She is so sweet!  She's a native from Singapore and speaks English, Mandarin, and learned Malay in the mission as well.  She has been a missionary 3 months longer I have (hers was the MTC group before me).  She's great, very open, and sensitive as well.  I'm really excited to serve with her.  We're going to have a ton of fun.


Will went out with us all day yesterday.  She just was confirmed on Sunday and already volunteered to go out and do missionary work!  She shared her testimony with like 3-4 people we met yesterday.  It was really cool.  It took me YEARS of experience in the church to get to the point where I felt comfortable sharing the gospel with people outside of church.  She's a good example and a reminder to me the importance of sharing the gospel, and the responsibility we have as ordinary members to reach out and offer people an opportunity to learn.


Last week we also did a "mini mission" where 3 girls preparing for their missions (Jen, Lola, and Elsie) stayed with us for three days and two nights.  We studied Preach My Gospel, had good language studies, taught them about record keeping in the area book, did role plays, and gave them plenty of teaching opportunities in teaching and finding situations.  It was awesome, they really stepped up.  Great experience.  They're gonna be awesome missionaries.  The members here are so incredibly strong.


So yesterday was also the first full day Sister Song and I proselyted together, and by the evening we were exhausted.  We met and talked to a ton of people but it seemed like no one really wanted to learn.  We were trying to meet people, but everyone seemed to be Muslim or something else...  until at 9:00 at night we walked by a bench where a young Chinese guy was sitting down and we sat down near him.  Sister Song started talking to him, and it came up that his parents had passed away.  She began to share about the Plan of Salvation and eternal families.  This was in Mandarin, so I got to just sit and listen and didn't know what they were saying at the time.  But I could feel that the spirit was there and that he was touched by what Sister Song was sharing.  He earnestly agreed to meet with us later this week and we came out on cloud nine--all of our exhaustion was gone.  It was a great contact.  It goes to show that you just have to keep going even when you're tired, and keep exercising faith and giving it all you have.  Miracles will follow.


Missionary work is the coolest, seriously.  I can't believe I am actually doing this.  Last week I invited someone to be baptized during my first meeting with him, and he accepted and picked a date.  Stuff like that seemed insane and impossible just 4 months ago.  It's just so cool here.


Anyone who has the option to serve a mission and is choosing not to go, or to postpone it until further notice, is making a huge mistake.  You cannot learn what you learn on the mission any other way.  It's years and years of valuable life experience (and spiritual experience!) packed into 18 to 24 months.  It cannot be replaced or substituted.  If you are young or getting old/have this option, GO ON YOUR MISSION.  It's the most valuable thing you could do!  The hardest for sure, but the BEST.  Heavenly Father is slowly shaping me into more of the person I have the potential to be.  I'm so grateful to be here.


Also, is it true that David Archuleta got a mission call?   Everyone in our mission is talking about it.


Until next week (remember your morning prayers!  I think that's the most important time of day to pray!),


Sister Gopinath

"Jurus'lamat Sayangiku"

Hey!  I hope everyone had a good Christmas.  I've realized that Christmas Day, though we all look forward to it, is kind of sad because it marks the end of the Christmas season.  At least I have Chinese New Year (twelve days here!) to look forward to--I've heard it's really cool here.  We are about to enter the year of the dragon.


There's not really much to report about my Christmas other than I got to talk to my amazing family, which was honestly the best present I could have gotten.  Not to sound cliche, but seriously.  It was great.  Other than that we went around visiting less-actives and members.  The work slowed down quite a bit because everyone has left the city and returned to their villages.  But now they're starting to come back.   :)   Lots of potential investigators we'll finally be able to see again.


Wilma got baptized last night!  It's been a roller coaster but she has worked so hard to get to her baptism, and she did it.  Lots of concerns and doubts, lots of concerns and doubts overcome by faith and turned into trust and testimony of the goodness of God.  Her faith is great and her mind is determined.  Her testimony of the Book of Mormon is unshakable, and she is very sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit, which is great.  She's so funny.  She feels close to a lot of the members already which helps her a lot.  Lola and I sang "Jurus'lamat Sayangiku" at her baptism... that primary song that goes "A long time ago in a beautiful place."  It was good.  It was hard for her because her family doesn't yet understand what she's doing, but she was happy last night.  She knows it's right.  What a good example to me.


Feeling more and more like myself, finally starting to adjust to all this change and getting a handle on things.  Also, my trainer is finishing her mission on Monday.  Unknown paths lie ahead.  I'm definitely going to miss Sister Wong.  She is going to be so blessed for putting up with/working with a companion like me.  I've learned so much from her and am very blessed that she was my companion.  A part of me I feels like I'm about to go home too.  I can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm going to be here for another 14 months... next Christmas, I will still be a missionary.  It feels too good to last that long.  So excited for 2012. :)


So Elder Larson, a senior missionary in our area, said regarding his mission as a young man in Germany: "The mission changes your life because you see the world for what it is."  That kind of hit me, or clicked with me.  That's just how I feel.  That's a huge difference in missionary work--the way you VIEW the world.  As a missionary you need to view the world more like God sees it, which unlocks so much truth.  (That and you go to places you would never normally go to, talk to people you might never normally talk to.)  I will never see people the same way again.  I learn every day.  There's so much power in thought and in intention and in choice--the effect of personal choices when given opportunity to make one.  Knowledge, upbringing, attitude, and lots more so intangible and hard to express but so real and all around me.  I've been told that I will never be the same after my mission.  I totally believe it.  I've also been told I have absolutely no idea what that means, because it will change me and my future and my family's future more than I comprehend right now.  The things I am learning, moreso the experience I'm gaining, is so valuable.  I'm so far from the missionary I actually want to be, the person I want to be. I'm never going to be perfect but I'm going to come out of this so much better.  The Lord really does bless us freely--I can't believe I have done what I have done so far.  So much of it seems impossible--and it would have been, had it not been for Heavenly Father's abundant grace and love and willingness to bless and support me in my weakness.  And these principles apply to us ALL, not just missionaries.  The experiences we have in life truly shape us.  We are here to learn, and we determine our futures--we even determine tomorrow.  God is waiting to bless us, we just need to do what he's asked.  And also pray.  Prayer is incredible. :)


The Gospel is true!  It CHANGES LIVES.  I have SEEN IT.  Jesus lives and has power to save us from sin and death.  God answers every sincere prayer.


Read the Book of Mormon every day.  :) It will bring you to Christ.


That's all.


Sister Gopinath

Christmas Music in Malaysia = Train Wreck

So... there are some amazing people in the world.  Such strong faith. Eddy and Reiki (Villa's siblings we met last week) are amazing young men, who really just desire to do what is right and do what God wants them to and become closer to Christ. I'm humbled again and again at the jewels that we meet--people full of goodness.  Last night we had a lesson with them about the Restoration more in depth, and I was touched by their sincerity.  Eddy asked us sincereily what faith is, inquired about prayer, Reiki about when he was younger he felt like he'd rather hang out with friends than go to church but now that's changing and he's feeling that following Jesus Christ is the most important thing for him.   These boys are examples to me--I wish you could meet them!!--of having the heart of a child, even though they're 21 and 15 years old (and live on their own).   They are so sincere and submissive and meek and open and desiring what is good.  After this lesson on the bus ride home I felt that my heart and mind were filled with the things of Heaven.   "Of such is the Kingdom of God."  It's so true.  The qualities of a child are so much the same as the qualities of the Savior.  We need to grow in wisdom as we have learning experiences, and have the minds of adults, but our hearts need to remain pure as a child's.  And it's totally possible.   Those are what the people in Heaven are going to be like.

This week I have been working on/focusing on loving the people more.   Yesterday I found this quote from Joseph Smith:  "A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race."   I also love 2 Nephi 26:33 - "He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female ; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."  Another quote that's been on my mind is from O Holy Night.   My favorite line, probably, is "Chains will He break, for the slave is our brother."

Before my mission I never realized the depth of this truth (actually I'm still learning and will continue…).   All people truly are children of our Heavenly Father, endowed with divine attributes and given the precious and powerful gift of agency. God really does shine his sunlight on both the good and the evil.   As followers of Christ, it's our responsibility to love everyone, EVERYone.   In the Bible it's explained how even wicked people love those that love them, but it takes spiritual strength and a truly good heart to love those that do not love you or treat you well.   That is true Christianity. Definitely working on that one.   To me it is one of the most noble things: to love purely, with your entire heart, someone who is difficult to love/does not reciprocate. We need God's divine help to get to that place but it is more than possible.

I'm so grateful for Christmas and this time to reflect on the reality of the Savior and Redeemer of the world.   It's the most powerful thing.   Reflecting on His life and what it means for me, and also reflecting on generosity and how to spread His love to those around me.   Christmas is incredible.   It's a time of prayer, generosity, forgiveness, love, family, sacrifice, and the Spirit of God.   I hope that your faith and testimony of our Savior deepens and grows as Christmas comes nearer.

Sister Gopinath

P.S. If you are in a place that has snow, will you play in it for me?

Makan Angin "To Eat Wind" Means to Waste Time

Hello!  What an eventful week.  First off, can I tell you that Marvin gave a talk on baptism at a baptism on this past Saturday? Exactly one week after he was baptized himself, he was standing in front of us teaching and testifying to us about baptism.  It's kind of funny, but it's really true--Sister Wong says she feels like missionary work is basically parenting.  I'm finding that to be true.  You serve and teach and love these people unconditionally...  when they make bad choices, it so breaks your heart, but when they make right choices, you absolutely rejoice--it's like floating on cloud 9!!  Seeing Marvin give a talk, even though he's actually only a few months younger than me, made me feel like a mother watching her son.  I just wanted to pinch his cheeks.  He received the priesthood on Sunday and will help out with the sacrament this coming Sunday.  He is such a blessing.  So proud, so proud!

So there's this one girl (who is actually close friends with Marvin) who has been coming to church.  Her name is Narlene and she is 16--she's so cute and she already glows with the light of Christ.  She's amazing because everything she learns at church, she takes home and teaches her family.  We haven't yet met her family and they're not sure yet how they feel about their daughter investigating the church.  But Narlene really wants to be baptized...  she was so quick to recognize the differences in this church, there's just a different feeling.  And she says it's the first time she's actually understood what people teach at church, which is really meaningful to her.  Sister Wong was telling her that she could be the one to bring the gospel to her family, so she could bring them with her into this amazing church.  She replied, "Of course I want that, but you know if they don't want to I still need to be baptized.”  She's so cool.  We gave her the Restoration video and she went home and showed her family, which is incredible.  We also gave her a picture of the temple and explained briefly what it was, and she has already decided she wants to get married there.  hahaha!  (not because it's funny but because it makes me so happy that smiling is not enough!!) She doesn't yet have permission to be baptized, but we're praying that can change.  We are going to her house on Monday with one of her member friends (she has a ton) to meet some of her family (GULP!) but hopefully that will be a really good thing.  Prayers would be awesome.

There's a lot more to write, just about people.  Oh!!  Yesterda,y one of our investigators, Vila (getting baptized 2 days after Christmas!), took us around her hometown to meet her relatives.  It was awesome, just going around and meeting people all day...  all people who were smiling and glad to meet us (weird feeling!).  Vila has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and wants her family to receive it as well.  We have a return appointment with her two younger brothers for Friday.  They are so super nice and said they felt really happy when they met us.  Referrals!!  Yeah!!  :) It was a neat day.

Oh I wanted to tell you all about some cool Malay phrases/things that made me laugh or gave insight.  It's such a funny language.

1) anjing laut.  literal translation: sea dog.  meaning: seal.

2) kencing manis.  literal translation: sweet urine.  meaning: diabetes.

3) orang utan.  literal translation: people of the jungle/forest.  meaning: orangutan.  haha!

4) makan angin.  literal translation: to eat wind.  meaning: to waste time.

5) cahaya mata.  literal translation: bright eyes.  meaning: child.

Cool huh? :)

So basically missionary work is awesome...  so demanding but so cool.  As a missionary we really do represent the Lord.  I try to always act (even down to my facial expression as I'm walking) so that if someone saw me (which they do) they could have a positive feeling about the church I represent.  The way I speak to people, how I behave... it's all so influential because of the black nametag I wear over my heart. But honestly I'm realizing this does not apply to missionaries only. The way we live as members is so influential on the world. Only when I got here did I really truly see how much people watch us. We must stand as a light, our lives MUST reflect the teachings of Christ.  We must emulate Christianity.  We must be pure and worthy and loving...  not only for our sakes but for the sakes of those around us.  We really do take upon us the name of Christ at baptism, and that's something that doesn't ever change.  When we're baptized we promise to make our lives a reflection of His gospel.  Something cool to think about is that when you live the Gospel, when you repent and are pure and obedient, YOU become a testimony of the Savior.  Your life, your very being, is a testimony that He is real and His gospel is true...  because of what change He has made in your life.  Have we magnified that? What have we done with His name? A humbling thought.

I love being a missionary!  I don't ever want to not be a missionary.  I always mention how hard it is but I feel like I can't get enough of this gospel I've been sent here to teach.  It's so powerful and beautiful and simple and deep.  We are all enlisted. 

Merry Christmas!  I'll talk about Christmas next week.  (Christmas music is Malaysia is horrendous.)

=D

Love you all!

Sister Gopinath