I'm so sorry! I had 25 emails this week!!! So, here are the highlights. Basically, Heavenly Father is providing miracles. As a Zone, we studied about becoming consecrated missionaries. It's about giving every last ounce of energy we have to Heavenly Father! So, we all in our zone now have cute little 'altars' and we are supposed to sacrifice a little bit more every week.
I finally tried Durian!!! It was the most disgusting food I've ever eaten. It almost made me throw up- literally! Man, it was mushy, and it tasted so bad. I can't even explain it. The two Chinese men that saw me eating it just laughed as they watched - everyone says Durian is the King of the Fruits, and so I should obviously like it. I don't!!
I made cinnamon rolls and banana bread this week! I feel happier when I have the chance to cook food I really like!!
Door knocking is illegal here. So, no door knocking! It makes it REALLY hard to fill the afternoon with activities that are productive. I think it's a struggle we have as missionaries here in Singapore.
We had miracles with two of our investigators! Well, we have a new investigator named R G, and he said he is going to be baptized! This is good news! Also, we were pondering what to do about R and her job. She can't find another one, and she is struggling to get her boss to let her have Sundays off. After some pondering, Sister Simon and I both felt very strongly that we needed to ask her to quit her job. It was probably one of the scariest commitments I've ever extended as I looked R in the eyes and asked her if she would quit so she could be baptized. We promised her as representatives of Jesus Christ that she would see miracles if she had faith. R seemed really scared, but she said she would! She said that this was something she had been pondering. So, by the 2nd week of September, she is either going to have Sundays off, or quit!! It was a huge miracle. Also, Sister Y P got to hear Sister Simon's testimony, and she cried. She really wants to come to church now, and she really wants what's best for her daughter. It felt like a turning point for her. So cool!! Miracles are occurring everywhere, and our mission is literally on a spiritual high. It's very, very fun and exciting to be a part of something so big here in Singapore. The work is literally hastening, and we can see Heavenly Father's hand in everything we do.
This week, I wanted to just put in a plug for personal study. As you study the scriptures with questions, you are better able to get answers and find what Heavenly Father needs you to be doing. As you 'ask' and then 'search' you can find answers, and feel Heavenly Father's love more in your life. I've noticed that as a missionary. When I ask, I receive. It's not always in the way I want, but if I ask in faith, I know Heavenly Father always hears and answers.
Love you all! Have a fantastic week!!
Love,
Sister Crabb
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Monday, August 18
So, time has really been bad to me this week as I tried to figure out pictures, but, I did send you some! Let me just tell you about my Visa run.
So, on Wednesday, I got to go to Batam and see the people of Indonesia! We took a ferry ride from Singapore, and then went and visited this wonderful LDS lady who lives there. She let us come to her private house, and sit on the beach all day. It was so fun, and exciting. My hair got insanely wind-blown on the boat, and I loved seeing all the clouds and Singapore disappear in the distance. I also loved seeing Sentosa! Look it up, it's beautiful. Batam was a whole different world! I got so many stares for being white. It was way different than Singapore. Everyone just honks at you as you walk down the street and everyone wants you to say 'hi' to them or get in their car. It was very strange to have a literal day off, but I enjoyed having a real breakfast (I usually just eat cereal...) at McDonalds (if that even counts as real breakfast) and just being in pants with sunglasses and looking like a tourist. It took all day, and coming back to Singapore was scary! Immigration is intense. You split up and try and act like you don't know each other, and just walk through. All of us made it back, and I got Rachel and Kaylie some cute bracelets from Indonesia! I'll have to send them to you :).
Other highlights, we are contacting up a storm right now! Sister Simon is so good at it...and so we are seeing a lot of potentials coming up.
We are seeing miracles with member missionary work! I love it, and hope it continues. Singapore is due for big things!
I ate ice cream in bread this week. Literally an ice cream sandwich!
We met Z W, and were able to get her to commit to coming to church! Also, R is progressing well!!! Her husband is in India right now, and she might be moving to Japan at the end of September, but we’ll see, I'll let you know next week.
And yes, I get copies of the Liahona and have a smart phone here that actually has everything gospel related on it. It's very nice. I will get the October Liahona really soon. WE get them REALLY early here.
I bought crab-shaped luggage tags in China Town on p-day. So cute! I love them. Best purchase ever!
I love you all so, so, so much! Other than that, it was a normal week of missionary work. I'll write a better letter next week, and hopefully get my camera to work!! I am GOING to make it happen next week.
Love you all!! Thanks for being the best!!!
Random thoughts....I miss popcorn and GRAHAM CRACKERS I realized this week. Also, as you reach out, you really find yourself. As you think about others, you innately become better.
Love you!!
xoxo,
Sister Crabb
So, on Wednesday, I got to go to Batam and see the people of Indonesia! We took a ferry ride from Singapore, and then went and visited this wonderful LDS lady who lives there. She let us come to her private house, and sit on the beach all day. It was so fun, and exciting. My hair got insanely wind-blown on the boat, and I loved seeing all the clouds and Singapore disappear in the distance. I also loved seeing Sentosa! Look it up, it's beautiful. Batam was a whole different world! I got so many stares for being white. It was way different than Singapore. Everyone just honks at you as you walk down the street and everyone wants you to say 'hi' to them or get in their car. It was very strange to have a literal day off, but I enjoyed having a real breakfast (I usually just eat cereal...) at McDonalds (if that even counts as real breakfast) and just being in pants with sunglasses and looking like a tourist. It took all day, and coming back to Singapore was scary! Immigration is intense. You split up and try and act like you don't know each other, and just walk through. All of us made it back, and I got Rachel and Kaylie some cute bracelets from Indonesia! I'll have to send them to you :).
Other highlights, we are contacting up a storm right now! Sister Simon is so good at it...and so we are seeing a lot of potentials coming up.
We are seeing miracles with member missionary work! I love it, and hope it continues. Singapore is due for big things!
I ate ice cream in bread this week. Literally an ice cream sandwich!
We met Z W, and were able to get her to commit to coming to church! Also, R is progressing well!!! Her husband is in India right now, and she might be moving to Japan at the end of September, but we’ll see, I'll let you know next week.
And yes, I get copies of the Liahona and have a smart phone here that actually has everything gospel related on it. It's very nice. I will get the October Liahona really soon. WE get them REALLY early here.
I bought crab-shaped luggage tags in China Town on p-day. So cute! I love them. Best purchase ever!
I love you all so, so, so much! Other than that, it was a normal week of missionary work. I'll write a better letter next week, and hopefully get my camera to work!! I am GOING to make it happen next week.
Love you all!! Thanks for being the best!!!
Random thoughts....I miss popcorn and GRAHAM CRACKERS I realized this week. Also, as you reach out, you really find yourself. As you think about others, you innately become better.
Love you!!
xoxo,
Sister Crabb
 |
| J with sister missionaries and a member |
 |
| Biking on Pular Ubin island |
 |
| Pular Ubin island |
 |
| Sister Crabb and Sister Krivanec on ferry to Pular Ubin island |
 |
| Ferry ride...Sister Simon is Alyssa's new companion and she is 2nd from right |
 |
| Ferry ride.... |
Monday, August 11
Dearest Family,
This needs to be a quicker e-mail, so sorry about that! Anyways, pictures WILL come next week as I am working hard to get technology figured out in Singapore by myself. Just wait though, it will be nice.
So, TRANSFERS!!! I am lucky enough to be staying in Woodlands :). I am very happy because I realized this week just how much I love and care about my investigators and I want so badly to stay with them and work with them. But, I got a new companion! The wonderful Sister Simon!!! We actually are all staying in the same house still...Sister Simon, Sister Reach, Sister Krivanec and I, but we switched companions. It will be fun, but slightly strange to still live with Sister Krivanec and not be her companion! I'm super excited though, because Sister Simon is super loving, and from Indonesia. I think we will have a lot of fun together, and do good missionary work!
Let me give you some highlights of the week...
First, just like you said that you were able to enjoy some tropical weather and rain, so did we! It's getting slightly cooler here, if you can call Singapore cool, and there's been a little bit more rain. On Thursday, it started POURING. Sister Krivanec and Sister Simon are pranksters, and told us that we needed to go outside because something fell off our 11th floor balcony. They were all changing into pants, but I was pretty content in my dress, figuring I would just use an umbrella, and feel the rain and enjoy it! However, I got down and as I was taking a picture, Sister Simon grabbed my umbrella! Within seconds, I realized that this was a scheme to play in the rain, and I was drenched within seconds. It was pretty fun, but it was also very, very wet. The rain was warm though, so that was fun! I'll send some 'wet pictures' next week.
Next, I got to have Phillipino food 3 times this week! I realized that I really, really like Phillipino food, especially dessert. I ate something that had mangos, lychees, and peaches in sweetened condensed milk. It was heaven in a bowl.
So, Sister Krivanec and I had this genius idea to be involved in community service - working at the garden club at the hospital! We are waiting for them to call us to let us come, but basically we would plant flowers every week, and get to talk to hospital patients. I hope it will work out, because it would be such a fun way to spend our afternoons every once in a while!
I realized that not speaking Chinese is sometimes really hard. I tried to contact all Monday night, and didn't get to talk to anyone really because they all only spoke Chinese! Maybe I'll figure out by the end of my mission how to bear my testimony in Mandarin. That would be nice!
We had a member give us referrals this week! We were able to go to his house for lunch (He's 24, and the EQ President, and in law school, and SUPER smart - if you can send me a really hard riddle, I want to give it to him. My goal in life is to find one he can't solve!) and met two of his friends. We taught them about the Book of Mormon which I loved, and I hope we can meet with them again! We'll need to follow-up :).
In other news, I met with R for FHE with the C family. It was so fun, and R is so excited to be a forever-family. I hope her husband can get referred, and that they can both become members. She is an investigator I want to be friends with for life! I want her and her husband to get baptized, and then I want to go see them get sealed. I love her so, so, so, so much! She is trying desperately to get her job figured out, so hopefully we'll be able to get that done soon. Her baptism is right around the corner....
We also met with Y P, and she is another investigator that I love. She is married to a less active and she is the sweetest, nicest person ever. She is Japanese, so she has a hard time believing in a God, but she has a little girl that I love. Her little girl is what inspires her to want to believe in God, so I hope we can play off of that and get her to feel the spirit of the gospel! She just needs to FEEL something, so hopefully we can figure that out.
My thought for this week is about small and simple. As I've studied and prayed, I've learned that the gospel is about taking small and simple steps in the right direction. It's about focusing on the now, and how you can be better today. It's not supposed to be overwhelming! Also, perfection is supposed to be achieved after a lifetime! I read a really great article that I would suggest to anyone who feels overwhelmed, or feels like they are 'forever falling short.' It's in the July Ensign and it's called 'Becoming Perfect through Christ' by Elder Gong. It is all about how if we think about being perfect all the time, we are not trusting in the Atonement and the love of God enough. It's been a nice twist on repentance and change that's made me feel really good about myself. I love knowing that it doesn't matter how I compare to other missionaries, what matters is that I am striving everyday to be closer to God, and if I do that everyday, eventually I will have a testimony that has the power to change the world. Honestly, that's how we come to know everything, in small and simple ways. I'm seeing that as I look back on my last 3 months of training (I MADE IT!!!), and I've realized that I've grown and changed in ways I can't imagine, and all of them were almost imperceptible, small and simple. However, they've given me a strong testimony of principles that I couldn't have gained in any other way except by being a missionary. Small and Simple truly leads to miracles!! That's how you become a person like Alma, or Abiniadi, or Nephi; by doing the simple, small things consistently.
Anyways, time to go!
Love you all,
Love, Sister Crabb
This is Alyssa's response to her dad's email:
Everything is going well as a missionary right now, I'm getting the hang of it! Keep praying for me to have success, and peace, and joy in the work. Sometimes it can be hard when you don't see a lot of success and when the work is slow. It's hard in Singapore when everyone is so busy. Also, I've decided the two biggest issues that we have with people and talking about religion is that people will say, "I'm Buddhist", which means they're saying they can't accept the gospel or learn about it at all because they're Buddhist. I try and explain that our message is for everyone, but they don't really like that. Also, Hindu people want to learn about religion because they believe all religion is good, and that every religion can get you back to God. They believe what you're saying, but they don't understand that there is literally one way back to God.
This needs to be a quicker e-mail, so sorry about that! Anyways, pictures WILL come next week as I am working hard to get technology figured out in Singapore by myself. Just wait though, it will be nice.
So, TRANSFERS!!! I am lucky enough to be staying in Woodlands :). I am very happy because I realized this week just how much I love and care about my investigators and I want so badly to stay with them and work with them. But, I got a new companion! The wonderful Sister Simon!!! We actually are all staying in the same house still...Sister Simon, Sister Reach, Sister Krivanec and I, but we switched companions. It will be fun, but slightly strange to still live with Sister Krivanec and not be her companion! I'm super excited though, because Sister Simon is super loving, and from Indonesia. I think we will have a lot of fun together, and do good missionary work!
Let me give you some highlights of the week...
First, just like you said that you were able to enjoy some tropical weather and rain, so did we! It's getting slightly cooler here, if you can call Singapore cool, and there's been a little bit more rain. On Thursday, it started POURING. Sister Krivanec and Sister Simon are pranksters, and told us that we needed to go outside because something fell off our 11th floor balcony. They were all changing into pants, but I was pretty content in my dress, figuring I would just use an umbrella, and feel the rain and enjoy it! However, I got down and as I was taking a picture, Sister Simon grabbed my umbrella! Within seconds, I realized that this was a scheme to play in the rain, and I was drenched within seconds. It was pretty fun, but it was also very, very wet. The rain was warm though, so that was fun! I'll send some 'wet pictures' next week.
Next, I got to have Phillipino food 3 times this week! I realized that I really, really like Phillipino food, especially dessert. I ate something that had mangos, lychees, and peaches in sweetened condensed milk. It was heaven in a bowl.
So, Sister Krivanec and I had this genius idea to be involved in community service - working at the garden club at the hospital! We are waiting for them to call us to let us come, but basically we would plant flowers every week, and get to talk to hospital patients. I hope it will work out, because it would be such a fun way to spend our afternoons every once in a while!
I realized that not speaking Chinese is sometimes really hard. I tried to contact all Monday night, and didn't get to talk to anyone really because they all only spoke Chinese! Maybe I'll figure out by the end of my mission how to bear my testimony in Mandarin. That would be nice!
We had a member give us referrals this week! We were able to go to his house for lunch (He's 24, and the EQ President, and in law school, and SUPER smart - if you can send me a really hard riddle, I want to give it to him. My goal in life is to find one he can't solve!) and met two of his friends. We taught them about the Book of Mormon which I loved, and I hope we can meet with them again! We'll need to follow-up :).
In other news, I met with R for FHE with the C family. It was so fun, and R is so excited to be a forever-family. I hope her husband can get referred, and that they can both become members. She is an investigator I want to be friends with for life! I want her and her husband to get baptized, and then I want to go see them get sealed. I love her so, so, so, so much! She is trying desperately to get her job figured out, so hopefully we'll be able to get that done soon. Her baptism is right around the corner....
We also met with Y P, and she is another investigator that I love. She is married to a less active and she is the sweetest, nicest person ever. She is Japanese, so she has a hard time believing in a God, but she has a little girl that I love. Her little girl is what inspires her to want to believe in God, so I hope we can play off of that and get her to feel the spirit of the gospel! She just needs to FEEL something, so hopefully we can figure that out.
My thought for this week is about small and simple. As I've studied and prayed, I've learned that the gospel is about taking small and simple steps in the right direction. It's about focusing on the now, and how you can be better today. It's not supposed to be overwhelming! Also, perfection is supposed to be achieved after a lifetime! I read a really great article that I would suggest to anyone who feels overwhelmed, or feels like they are 'forever falling short.' It's in the July Ensign and it's called 'Becoming Perfect through Christ' by Elder Gong. It is all about how if we think about being perfect all the time, we are not trusting in the Atonement and the love of God enough. It's been a nice twist on repentance and change that's made me feel really good about myself. I love knowing that it doesn't matter how I compare to other missionaries, what matters is that I am striving everyday to be closer to God, and if I do that everyday, eventually I will have a testimony that has the power to change the world. Honestly, that's how we come to know everything, in small and simple ways. I'm seeing that as I look back on my last 3 months of training (I MADE IT!!!), and I've realized that I've grown and changed in ways I can't imagine, and all of them were almost imperceptible, small and simple. However, they've given me a strong testimony of principles that I couldn't have gained in any other way except by being a missionary. Small and Simple truly leads to miracles!! That's how you become a person like Alma, or Abiniadi, or Nephi; by doing the simple, small things consistently.
Anyways, time to go!
Love you all,
Love, Sister Crabb
This is Alyssa's response to her dad's email:
Everything is going well as a missionary right now, I'm getting the hang of it! Keep praying for me to have success, and peace, and joy in the work. Sometimes it can be hard when you don't see a lot of success and when the work is slow. It's hard in Singapore when everyone is so busy. Also, I've decided the two biggest issues that we have with people and talking about religion is that people will say, "I'm Buddhist", which means they're saying they can't accept the gospel or learn about it at all because they're Buddhist. I try and explain that our message is for everyone, but they don't really like that. Also, Hindu people want to learn about religion because they believe all religion is good, and that every religion can get you back to God. They believe what you're saying, but they don't understand that there is literally one way back to God.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Monday, August 4
Hey family and friends!!
I hope everything is going so well at home! It looks like it is. I'm so sorry I can't send pictures again, but the place I'm at apparently gives viruses to cameras if I put them in. So, cannot. Also, I am getting transfer news next week! Crazy!! So, look forward to that. This week was actually pretty slow and hard, but that's alright. These weeks happen, and you just look forward to next week. I can't wait to share mission stories with Ashley! It will be so fun to talk to her because she gets so much food and so many investigators!
Monday: For P-Day, I was able to go to a HUGE BBQ with an American in our ward. It was so fun, and good, and I loved it! I got apple pie, and green jello (without cottage cheese) and chips, and baked beans, and potato salad, and burgers. We went outside because the member told us you can't be American and not have a BBQ during summer. So, I enjoyed! I ate more food than I should have, but it tasted so, so, so good. It was nice to eat something I recognized. That night, we hunted down some less actives in our ward. We have a lot of less active people, and the Relief Society wants us to figure out if people still stay where the ward list says they stay. So, we went to a few houses. We got the door slammed in our face, we got lied to, and people literally would peek out their door, and we would know they were there, and then they wouldn't open the door! So sad! I just laughed. Wearing a black tag makes you really intimidating apparently. I love that I get to have so many experiences like this as a missionary. You really get the strangest people talking to you, and have the strangest experiences as well as the incredible ones.
Tuesday: Tuesday I was able to experience a miracle! This will answer all your questions mom about the Book of Mormon. So the Book of Mormon was supposed to go to a lady named K who the American man, B, had interacted with while he was here in Singapore. We were finally able to contact her on Tuesday night! I'm convinced Satan didn't want us to meet with her, because it was still really hard to get to her house. We hopped on the wrong MRT a couple times, which usually doesn't happen. We had a couple random things happen that Sister Krivanec and I usually don't forget - like leaving our planner at home, or getting lost. After we finally got to her house, we gave her the Book of Mormon that had B's testimony in it. It was such a good testimony, and it made her literally break down in tears. She sat there crying, and Sister Krivanec and I just sat and listened. She opened up about how hard her life has been, and how she really could use some help right now. She moved to Singapore for a boy, and then the boy dumped her. Now, she's roped into a job she hates. She told us that she has had a special place for the Mormon church, and has been wanting to get a Bible, but hasn't because her friends keep telling her that she needs to get one as a gift! It was such a sweet experience, and I have never felt the spirit more during a contact. I know that she is prepared for the gospel, and that it's her time to accept it. We won't be able to meet with her because she isn't in our area, but I know the other missionaries will do a great job with her. This experience was such a testimony builder that Heavenly Father is preparing people, we just have to find them. Also, Satan may work hard to stop the work, but Heavenly Father is also working hard to keep it going.
Wednesday: We ended up having a really strange service experience! We went to a lady's house, and she fed us on the lid of a pot and a plastic Tupperware. Then, we moved literally 5 bags all the way across town. I'm glad I was able to help her out, although it was not exactly what I was expecting going into the experience.
Thursday: We met with a less active named W M and were able to strengthen her. She is the sweetest, and can't come to church simply because of work. I felt so happy today and love how great you feel when you are in the service of God. There's a joy that's indescribable that you can't get in any other way. You feel like everything is worth it when you are doing God's will and changing people's lives by giving them the gospel!
Saturday: We had the Ward MTC!! It was such a success. Sister Krivanec and I talked about making ourselves a championship team, and the ward seemed to really like it. It was hard to teach, because we wanted to inspire them without making them feel condemned. Asian culture doesn't like to be embarrassed, so it was a fine line between getting them to want to do more, and not making them feel like we don't appreciate them - because we honestly do. They are the sweetest people, and give up so much for the gospel. They truly are an inspiration to me of what it means to make the gospel priority in our lives. I love meeting members here, they are the nicest! Also, our ward mission leader has been a little stressed, so we bought him pop tarts because he's never had them. Actually, a lot of people here haven't tried them. So, we went around and gave them to people and it was fun to see their reaction as they ate pop tarts for the first time!
Sunday:I went to church and enjoyed it! I always love being a member and just listening to talks. We also got some yummy Indian food from a member - she's been so nice feeding us after church. A lot of people here put food in the kitchen during church, and that's what she does. She cooks at home, and leaves it for us at the church to eat when we're done with meetings. Random thought, I want you to know mom, you taught me how to clean well! I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, and one of the members there said I'm good at housework and that I clean up well. I said I learned from my mom!! So, way to teach me how to clean mama!
I have to go, but I love the gospel! I love studying it every morning, and know that by studying and applying what I learn, I grow closer to the Savior. I also love the line in Preach my Gospel that says when we truly understand the Atonement, we want to share it with everyone else. So, as I study the Savior, His life, His character, and all He does, I truly learn to love the work more. I love what I get to give people, and the ways I get to change their life!
Thanks for all your support and prayers, I know that they work, and that they help strengthen me here as I serve. Love you all!!
Love,
Sister Crabb
I hope everything is going so well at home! It looks like it is. I'm so sorry I can't send pictures again, but the place I'm at apparently gives viruses to cameras if I put them in. So, cannot. Also, I am getting transfer news next week! Crazy!! So, look forward to that. This week was actually pretty slow and hard, but that's alright. These weeks happen, and you just look forward to next week. I can't wait to share mission stories with Ashley! It will be so fun to talk to her because she gets so much food and so many investigators!
Monday: For P-Day, I was able to go to a HUGE BBQ with an American in our ward. It was so fun, and good, and I loved it! I got apple pie, and green jello (without cottage cheese) and chips, and baked beans, and potato salad, and burgers. We went outside because the member told us you can't be American and not have a BBQ during summer. So, I enjoyed! I ate more food than I should have, but it tasted so, so, so good. It was nice to eat something I recognized. That night, we hunted down some less actives in our ward. We have a lot of less active people, and the Relief Society wants us to figure out if people still stay where the ward list says they stay. So, we went to a few houses. We got the door slammed in our face, we got lied to, and people literally would peek out their door, and we would know they were there, and then they wouldn't open the door! So sad! I just laughed. Wearing a black tag makes you really intimidating apparently. I love that I get to have so many experiences like this as a missionary. You really get the strangest people talking to you, and have the strangest experiences as well as the incredible ones.
Tuesday: Tuesday I was able to experience a miracle! This will answer all your questions mom about the Book of Mormon. So the Book of Mormon was supposed to go to a lady named K who the American man, B, had interacted with while he was here in Singapore. We were finally able to contact her on Tuesday night! I'm convinced Satan didn't want us to meet with her, because it was still really hard to get to her house. We hopped on the wrong MRT a couple times, which usually doesn't happen. We had a couple random things happen that Sister Krivanec and I usually don't forget - like leaving our planner at home, or getting lost. After we finally got to her house, we gave her the Book of Mormon that had B's testimony in it. It was such a good testimony, and it made her literally break down in tears. She sat there crying, and Sister Krivanec and I just sat and listened. She opened up about how hard her life has been, and how she really could use some help right now. She moved to Singapore for a boy, and then the boy dumped her. Now, she's roped into a job she hates. She told us that she has had a special place for the Mormon church, and has been wanting to get a Bible, but hasn't because her friends keep telling her that she needs to get one as a gift! It was such a sweet experience, and I have never felt the spirit more during a contact. I know that she is prepared for the gospel, and that it's her time to accept it. We won't be able to meet with her because she isn't in our area, but I know the other missionaries will do a great job with her. This experience was such a testimony builder that Heavenly Father is preparing people, we just have to find them. Also, Satan may work hard to stop the work, but Heavenly Father is also working hard to keep it going.
Wednesday: We ended up having a really strange service experience! We went to a lady's house, and she fed us on the lid of a pot and a plastic Tupperware. Then, we moved literally 5 bags all the way across town. I'm glad I was able to help her out, although it was not exactly what I was expecting going into the experience.
Thursday: We met with a less active named W M and were able to strengthen her. She is the sweetest, and can't come to church simply because of work. I felt so happy today and love how great you feel when you are in the service of God. There's a joy that's indescribable that you can't get in any other way. You feel like everything is worth it when you are doing God's will and changing people's lives by giving them the gospel!
Saturday: We had the Ward MTC!! It was such a success. Sister Krivanec and I talked about making ourselves a championship team, and the ward seemed to really like it. It was hard to teach, because we wanted to inspire them without making them feel condemned. Asian culture doesn't like to be embarrassed, so it was a fine line between getting them to want to do more, and not making them feel like we don't appreciate them - because we honestly do. They are the sweetest people, and give up so much for the gospel. They truly are an inspiration to me of what it means to make the gospel priority in our lives. I love meeting members here, they are the nicest! Also, our ward mission leader has been a little stressed, so we bought him pop tarts because he's never had them. Actually, a lot of people here haven't tried them. So, we went around and gave them to people and it was fun to see their reaction as they ate pop tarts for the first time!
Sunday:I went to church and enjoyed it! I always love being a member and just listening to talks. We also got some yummy Indian food from a member - she's been so nice feeding us after church. A lot of people here put food in the kitchen during church, and that's what she does. She cooks at home, and leaves it for us at the church to eat when we're done with meetings. Random thought, I want you to know mom, you taught me how to clean well! I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, and one of the members there said I'm good at housework and that I clean up well. I said I learned from my mom!! So, way to teach me how to clean mama!
I have to go, but I love the gospel! I love studying it every morning, and know that by studying and applying what I learn, I grow closer to the Savior. I also love the line in Preach my Gospel that says when we truly understand the Atonement, we want to share it with everyone else. So, as I study the Savior, His life, His character, and all He does, I truly learn to love the work more. I love what I get to give people, and the ways I get to change their life!
Thanks for all your support and prayers, I know that they work, and that they help strengthen me here as I serve. Love you all!!
Love,
Sister Crabb
I asked Alyssa about the announcement from last week that they can only teach with members and about the ex-pats she mentioned and this is her response:
It came from our Zone Leaders, and apparently they have permission to do that. Our Stake President was really worried about it too, and so we can have other lessons, we just basically have to exhaust every option before then. We tried it here because in KL (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) it has been working, and working well. It also is probably the push that we need to get the work rolling here in Singapore. It's on the verge of something great, and we as missionaries all feel it, and if the members can catch that fire, then we will be teaching a lot of people:). Ex-Pat Ward is a ward for ex-patriots. So, they are people that come to Singapore for work and don't have Permanent Residency (PR). It is basically an American ward. So, I can get the whole mission experience here in Singapore! An American Ward, a Singaporean Ward (which feels slightly like what a European Mission might be like) as well as a more poor mission in Malaysia. The church in East Malaysia is literally in the 1800s. The missionaries run the church over there! Plus, in West Malaysia, 80 percent of the people you can't teach because they are Malay, and the government won't let them learn about Christianity. If I even talk about what I believe to them, I and they could go to jail. What a fun mission I have! I probably have one of the most exciting ones in the entire world!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)