Week 26: Butterworth, Malaysia

The Ballad of Butterworth

Good morning everyone! It is officially Christmas eve here in Malaysia, but it doesn't feel like it at all because it is already 33 degrees and as usual I am sweating! But, Elder Anglin and I have been playing lots of Christmas music around the apartment, so the Christmas spirit is still here, it is just a little Malaysian.

This week was really great! On Monday, Elder Anglin and I went to hike Penang Hill. The hike was so beautiful, but it ended up being so intense! There were definitely moments when I thought that it would be the end of me, but we made it! Plus, at the end of the hike, my legs were shaking so much, it was hilarious! 

This week, we also have been working a lot with the returning members in our branch. We met with a nice man named Brother Khong, and then we met with Brother Gerald, his wife, and their four kids (who are named Danoosh, Dineesh, Narresh, and Kelsvin, so hard to keep straight). 

And then, on Saturday night, we had a Christmas party, and it was awesome! We had Indian food and then our branch president roasted a turkey, and there were around 50 people there (more than half were friends that members brought!). On Sunday, we had our special, 1-hour church service, and Brother Gerald and his family and Brother Khong both came, even though they haven't been to church in years! It was a Christmas miracle!

This upcoming week, Elder Anglin and I are going to travel to Sitiawan for exchanges. We have to take a bus to a city close by Sitiawan, and then we will buy tickets to Sitiawan, plus we need to bring our bikes on the bus, so it is going to be quite the adventure.

I love you all so so much! I hope that you can feel the Christmas spirit and that you can feel the Savior's love for each and every one of you! It is always there, but I think we can feel it especially strong this time of the year. I love you all so so much! Please enjoy the snow for me, sing lots of Christmas hymns, and don't forget to smile :)

I forgot to tell you all about this! These guard dogs moved in right across the street from our apartment, and so every night for a couple weeks they would chase us on our way home...it was terrifying! When I got close to the apartment, my heart started beating so fast. 

But by now they have learned who we are, and so they don't follow us anymore haha. 

Love you all! Have a great week!

Spiritual Thoughts and Pictures

This week, I wanted to share the words to one of my favorite hymns (266) "The Time Is Far Spent." One of the verses says "What tho, if the favor of Ahman possessing, This world's bitter hate you are called to endure? The angels are waiting to crown you with blessings! Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure." 

I think that at one time or another, it feels like we are enduring the world's bitter hate; all of our plans fall through, we don't end up where we were hoping to be, or any other difficult thing we go through. But, I LOVE what it says in the second half...angels are waiting to crown us with blessings, and the promise is sure. No doubt, life can be hard, but if we follow Jesus Christ and His commandments, we have no need to fear; angels are around us, waiting to crown us with blessings!

I love you all so much! I hope you have a marvelous Christmas and that you can grow in your testimony of the Savior. He chose to become like us so we could choose to become like Him. No matter where we are, His love and His light reaches us. 

Best,

Elder Weatherford

Some pictures from the week: Our branch at church, Penang hill, and some pictures of us during the hike.