Love Actually, Pt 2 / Beautiful People

Hey hey orang yang saya sayang,

It's safe to say I'm a little city slicker now. People have told me I look Singaporean. I've gotten pretty good at waving down buses, and I know the MRT (metro) like the back of my hand. Singapore is basically one big mall, we're bombarded by lights and noise and advertisements everywhere we go, but it sure is a beautiful city. It's really fun talking to people on the public transportation, they look so tired because people here work all the time, but as soon as I start talking to them they light up. And I love saying hi to people as I pass them, everywhere I go. Sometimes, sure, they're too busy or too in a hurry to acknowledge me, but most of the time, they smile back. It never gets old.

Oh and no worries, I've used my Malay at least once a day here.

But let me start back at my trip into Singapore last week, the theme of my email last week was supposed to be about love. So I, along with a group of other missionaries, hopped on a plane from Kuching to Singapore, either to transfer to Singapore, JB, or to pick up their trainee. I sat by Elder Hirschi on the plane, his eyes were bloodshot. "I didn't sleep at all last night. I didn't realize I had so much stuff from being in Kuching for 9 months." I think we tried talking to each other, but he fell asleep. And then I think I might have fallen asleep too? Just so you know, missionaries never sleep during transfers. I didn't sleep for like three days, there was too much stuff to do. Oh and I was also sick, I don't know from what. We landed in Singapore, and ran into the Asisters, who where there to pick up the new missionaries, who where landing half an hour after us. Sister Terhani said, "Get out of here, the new missionaries can't see you!" but Elder Toney had to stay since he was the new AP. Elder Capener and I said, "Ha, you have to babysit the new kids!"

I accidentally lost the other Sisters we were traveling with, I think they hopped the MRT. I looked at Sister Terhani and said, "Well, should I pull an MTC solo sister?" and she said that was fine. Elder Capener and Elder Hirschi got us a cab, and at the Newton Chapel, we waited around for a little bit to see when training on how to train would start. We waited in the chapel. I played piano, Elder Hirschi fell asleep, and Elder Capener kind of sat there. President Mains walked in and said hi to us. I laughed when he woke Elder Hirschi up and Elder Hirschi did his best to straighten up and act like he wasn't just asleep, in the chapel, in his P-day clothes. We asked President when we were supposed to be at the chapel, and he said, "Our meeting's not for another 3 hours. We'll see you here at 6." He left, and I turned to the Elders, and said, "Did President basically just dare us to go on an adventure?" The Elders looked at each other, and then at me again, and said, "I think he did."

We hopped on the MRT and went to Marina Bay, and looked at all of the sights, like the Sands Hotel, and the Sands Mall, and the Supertree Grove, the Merlion statue. The best view of the Singapore skyline is from Marina Bay. The three of us vowed that one day, we would pay the S$20 to go to the top of the Sands Hotel, check out the infinity pool, and maybe play some frisbee at the park up there. We said goodbye to Elder Hirschi because he needed to catch a bus to JB, and had our training on how to be trained. I loved it, the biggest thing I learned was to love. There wasn't really a whole lot more to it. Sister Black and I went to the Thomson Hotel, the same hotel I stayed in the first night in the field. That night, I called the Masai elders in JB because I had a referral for them. I called, and Elder Jackson picked up the phone! I was stoked because I haven't talked to him since we got to the field. I asked him how is area was, and he said, "I'm not going to lie, it's a little scary at times." (JB is one of those areas that's a little sketch, but I want to serve there so bad. It's currently closed to sisters.) I told him not to be scared because fear is the absence of faith. Then I asked, "Are you happy?" and he said, "Yeah, I'm happy."

I couldn't sleep at all that night because I was sick. The next morning, Sister Black and I woke up the new sisters, all thirteen of them, and had to cart them back to the chapel. I pretended like I wasn't sick, and did my best to be a good example to them and try to contact people on the bus. I met the coolest guy named Javier, who's an architect from Madrid. I got his contact info and told him if he ever misses his family, he's welcome to come to church with us so it still feels like he has a family. All of the new sisters thought I was so hebat, but I was just kind of winging it...

We somehow managed to get all of the sisters breakfast, and when we got to the chapel, I felt like I wanted to die. I asked Elder Capener, Elder Lambert, and Elder Daw (all from my MTC group) if they could give me a blessing. I know I had the energy to get through the week because of it. The rest of the week was kind of a blur. At the new missionary orientation, I bore my testimony and talked about how obedience brings miracles, and how love changes everything. (I got to bear my testimony a lot this week). I met Sister Hansen, and in keeping with tradition, we got our greenies Indian food at Little India. Sister Nielson showed us where our investigators lived, because she got transferred to 1st ward, but she was previously in 3rd ward. I hope I get to serve with her one of these transfers, her Malay is legit, and it was fun teaching with her in pass-off lessons. She said I was sudah pandai missionary, and sudah fasih bahasa Melayu, which was so sweet of her. We met with Keith, who said he wasn't sure if he wanted to get baptized anymore, which stung.

Then, the rest of the week, Sister Hansen and I followed up with people, found other cool people to teach, and went about missionary work. It's different here, in Singapore, if you have two appointments a day, that's a good day. We spend so much time traveling. A lot of the time, I miss Miri, where we would have 4, 5, 6 appointments a day. I didn't realize I would miss teaching (or Malay) so much, but I do. It's okay, because as I talk to people on the MRT, and on the buses, I can still teach little bits of truth. When people ask me what I'm doing here, I say, "I thought you'd never ask. I love telling people I've been saved by Jesus Christ.

We had a miracle with Keith, at our last lesson, I asked him to read talks from general conference, and in the middle of the week, he texted us and told us he read a really weird article about the church (you know, one of those anti-ones that mixes in truths with lies). Sister Hansen was really bummed, but I just said, "Reading anti articles? Rookie mistake." I texted him back a quote from Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, "I'm not asking you to pretend to have faith you do not have, I am asking you to act on the faith you DO have." He texted me back another quote from conference. Then, at our lesson on Saturday, he said, "I realized from listening to conference that those questions I had before don't matter right now. I want to get baptized. Before the end of the year."

Anyway, I love all the Christmas decorations all over the city. Love (and Christmas) is all around. One of our less actives told me she gets so weary of seeing so many people, so many crowds all the time. I love it, I just see beautiful people everywhere.

On the plane ride from Miri to Kuching, I closed my eyes and said a prayer to God, asking Him if my work, my sacrifice in Miri was acceptable. I felt at peace, I got the confirmation that my work there was done. I hope at the end of my mission, I can say the same prayer for all of my areas and feel the same way.

Well, my time is up. Til we meet again. We're off to play some ultimate frisbee at the beach.

-Sister Wynn

Love Actually, Is All Around

Commo stapo?

I love this mission because it keeps you on your toes. 5 days ago, I was biking along in suburban Miri, teaching Ibans in Malay, but listening to them speak Iban. Now I'm teaching Filipinos in English, but yesterday, church was half in Tagalog.

So as you all know, Singapore is a totally different beast from East Malaysia. But it's really cool being in one of the cleanest, biggest, most artistically beautiful cities in the world around Christmas time.

And there are Christmas decorations and songs everywhere. It reminds me of Love Actually, where Christmas is all around.

But let me start at the beginning. I loved being in our party-van last P-day on the way to the Niah caves. We were all getting calls about transfers, and there was so much excitement and energy as we got calls. Sister LeBaron had found out that morning, via a telephone call from President Mains, that she was being made Sister Training Leader in Kuching, but she got to stay in Miri and show the new sisters our area. She freaked out, and then later told me he told her I was going to Singapore, training!

As we were driving to the Niah Caves, Elder Snyder got a call saying he was being made zone leader in Bintulu, and because the Chinese group is becoming a branch, Miri is getting 2 Chinese Elders. He also asked, "What ward is Sister Wynn in?" and he looked up and mouthed the words "You're in 3rd ward!" Sister LeBaron and I flipped because that was the ward she served in for 6 months, and I've heard so many good things about it. It's the highest baptizing ward in Singapore, and I'll tell you why in just a sec.

And here's the cool part: A couple months ago, I was praying, and I asked Heavenly Father, "Can I serve in Singapore sometime? But if I serve there, can I serve in 3rd ward? If it's not thy will, it's totally cool. Just letting you know my thoughts and desires."

And now look where I am. Heavenly Father does take into account the things we pray for. But even if I wasn't here, I know there are people in this mission I'm supposed to meet.

The next day for district meeting, Elder Snyder and I bore our testimonies, because as he says, "Looks like we're both getting booted out of Miri."

I just told my district I'm on a mission because I know I have been saved by Christ, and I'm grateful for my time in Miri because it taught me about love. I told them I know God lives, Christ lives, and that the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ. After District meeting, we ate at our favorite little Roti canai place.

I found out Tuesday afternoon that I was leaving for Kuching on Wednesday, not the biasanya Thursday because the mission office couldn't get me a flight except on Wednesday. That meant I had half a day to say my goodbyes. It was so hard to say goodbye, but if it's hard, it's good because it means you love the people. I said good-bye to Sister Minah and Sister Bernadine, Jali and Payah and their kids, Kusnadi and his kids, Nayan and her kids, and Tungalim and Ngian and their families. Oh and Brother Chaong's family. Barama and her family gave me a beautiful red sarong. I cried a little, I'll admit.

At night, I frantically packed and wrote letters and the next morning, I packed some more. Sister Satam called me and said, "Sisterrrr...why are you leaving? Why didn't you say goodbye?" I told her I loved her so much and I was sorry. With everyone though, I told them, "I love you so much, and I'll miss you, but it's okay if you forget me. Just promise me you won't forget Jesus Christ."

I said goodbye to my Miri Sisters, stopped by the Elder's house to pick up some stuff and drop off some stuff, I had Elder Mitchell sneakily pass me a Book of Mormon, and I gave it to the other lady in my cab and got her contact info. She was going to school in Miri but from JB and wanted to learn. I got to the little Miri airport, I thought to myself, "Shoot I forgot to look at my gate number." But then I reminded myself that it's Miri, and the airport has 2 gates sahaja haha. A really cute Muslim lady told me I was pretty, and then was surprised I could understand her and told her "Mana ada cantik!" She said my Malay was good, and I thought to myself it was gonna get a little rusty in Singapore. I said goodbye to little Miri, my home, and an hour later, landed in Kuching. I stayed with the Kuching Sisters all day. Sister Tai (who now lives with me) was packing all day, then I went out with Sister Hillier and her with a recent convert, Sister Rose, who still remembered me from New Missionary training.

We walked into the Kuching chapel and I saw Elder Parker, my homeboy, taking pictures with the members because his trainer, Elder Robins, was being transferred. I walked in and said, "Ah semua lelaki kacak!" and totally surprised them. The guy who was taking the pictures told me to masuk, so I hopped into a bunch of pictures with the Elders and this random Iban family I never met. It was good to see Elder Parker, my MTC teachers were right, you see your MTC group more times than you can count in this mission, even though it spans two countries.

The Sisters and I were taken out to dinner by Sister Rose, we went to these hawker stands and I ate the most delicious burger. I also hadn't eaten in like 2 days so it was especially good. The next morning, we went to the airport, some of us transferring, some of us picking up greenies from Singapore. I ran into Elder Ferguson and Elder Lundquist at the airport, they were dropping some other Elders off. I also ran into the one, the only, Elder Capener, who's training the one new Malay-speaking Elder. He was with Elder Toney, the new AP.

Anyway, I'm out of time, but Sister Hansen is my little trainee. I love her already. She's from Mesa, Arizona, and is ready to do work! I love being a trainer, it's pretty fun but kind of crazy when you're trying to do missionary work in a giant city you've never actually lived in before. But in the moments where it's a little stressful, or a little crazy, I just get on my knees and pray. Mudah. And whatever the word for easy is in Tagalog.

I hope my pictures tell a good story at least.

Love you all, keep the faith.

-Sister Wynn

Trainers all from MTC group.

Singapore baby!

Beautiful Feet / Transfer News

Pizza Hut for Thanksgiving

Geared for spelunking

I'm covered in dirt and bat guano because the district and I had a little jungle adventure at Batu Niah Caves today.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth!" Isaiah 52:7

Elder S. Gifford Nielson quoted this scripture during last general conference and talked about the story of Elder Quentin L. Cook's exit interview with a return missionary who had worn out shoes, and sacrificed everything to go on his mission. This Elder's parents didn't even support him. Elder Cook asked to have his shoes and bronzed them, and put the scripture on a plaque.

After that talk, I leaned over to Sister LeBaron and said, "So I'm thinking of bronzing my Crocs after my mission."

This was another hard week. The first week (and hopefully the last) where I almost went postal. I was so mad some days this week, but when I felt that anger, I dropped to my knees and prayed. When I couldn't find patience or love of my own, I asked to have some of Christ's love. And it worked. We were supposed to have a baptism this week but it didn't happen, and it's okay. When a truck splashed me with water, I didn't say all the swear words I know.

One of our investigators told us when her husband was still alive, he was an alcoholic and she showed us her missing tooth and said she lost it when he hit her in the face with a beer bottle. One of our church members who I love cried in one of our lessons, but won't tell us what's wrong, because as she said, "You can't help me anyway." I cried with her. One of our other church members got into a car wreck with her younger sisters, but she's okay and we're making pizzas with her tonight for family night.

So because Miri doesn't have a senior couple like all the other cities in this mission, the district and I went to Pizza Hut for Thanksgiving! And it was good. I felt so at home, like "Oh, we don't have a senior couple to make us Thanksgiving dinner? Let's just go get pizza." It felt like something my family would do if our power went out or something. I was a little homesick.

Oh, and for Thanksgiving, missionaries get a whole extra hour for lunch, and then it's back to work. It's hard to bike when you're gorged on pizza, but so worth it.

One of our less actives came back from kampung, and we started teaching his family again! Except his neighbors were telling us he started drinking again. In one of our lessons, he kind of sat far from us, I think he was feeling a little malu about drinking (because he's a heavy drinker and it's a problem in his family). We addressed it by not making it weird. We said we want him to be worthy to baptize his son in a few months, and we care about him and love him. God loves him and is always there for him. And you should have seen his countenance change.

All people need is love, and they will change.

I feel so privileged that I get to love people, because it shows them a little of the love God has for them.

Another miracle, one of our families we've been working with, but are afraid to come to church, said they'd come next week. We asked the dad, and we asked him if he wanted the priesthood. "Mahu." And if he wanted to be sealed to his family in the temple. "Mahu." I know they'll get baptized some day soon, and it's okay if I'm not here to see them to it.m

My feet are so worn out. Scarred a little, but scars fade fade.

Since we're supposed to liken the scriptures to ourselves,

How beautiful in the kampungs of east Malaysia are the muddy, mosquito-bitten feet of she that bringeth good news, this berita baik, saying you can have eternal joy, that your broken body, broken heart, broken mind can be mended, that you can see your loved ones again, that we are given a Savior, that our God reigneth, and He loves you! He knows your name, He knows your struggles, and He will always stand by you.

And now for the transfer news:

This week is the Armageddon of sister transfers. There are 13 English speaking sisters coming in this transfer, which means pretty much every sister has to train. We previously had no idea what was going to happen, but I had the feeling I was going to train. I wasn't sure if I would train in Miri (since there are no English speaking areas here). But...

...How beautiful in the MRT (metro), buses, and immaculate streets of Singapore are the feet of she who just flew in from Miri, publishing peace, saying take out your headphones, you don't have to look so tired from work, you have a God who loves you!

I'm going to Singapore.

3rd ward, the Filipino speaking ward. Maybe I'll pick up some Tagalog? The APs are in my ward, and the whole island of Singapore is my playground.

Oh, and I'm training a new sister these next three months. It's a white wash. BUCKLE UP. I'm ready to train, and I'm ready to spend lots of time praying for help.

I'm going to miss Miri so much. I love the people here. But it's good that it's hard to leave, it means that I've loved people like I've never loved before, and that's a good thing. Miri will always be a little bit of home to me.

-Sister Wynn