Cultural Experiences in Kuala Lumpur

We were invited to accompany another senior couple, the Colmans to an Iranian Cultural Celebration which was  a fundraiser dinner for the disabled children's Day Care Center.   The LDS Charities has provided assistance to this center for many years and they spoke very highly about the LDS church as they were introducing us.  When we arrived we were met by the hostess, Elle, who seated us graciously at the head table.  They treated us like someone really special, little did they know we are just missionaries for the church.  They even served us first for the dinner. 

They were celebrating the Iranian New Year and each of these items is very symbolic

This delightful young man is the recipient of one of LDS Charities wheelchairs. 

.

There were six fires that they kept burning all evening, and the people would run and jump over each fire.   They believe that you leave the bad spirits and evil in the fire and so you will have a happy and prosperous new year.

This magician is from Malaysia. 

He did several magic tricks, but this one was truly amazing.

He had a goblet full of water, gave Elle a drink of it, then swished it around and it then had four goldfish in it.  They swam in the water the rest of the evening. 

It truly baffled me, that's for sure.

The Iranian dinner was  very good. 

They told me it is not spicy just very flavorful.

  Have you ever tried to eat a chicken breast with a plastic spoon. 

That was definitely a challenge.

The magician and his darling family were celebrating a birthday.

This is Elle, the hostess and the woman who runs the day care center. 

She followed us to the car and gave us flowers from the decorations.

They smelled heavenly.

This video gives you an idea of the music and the dancing that they did.  The Colmans actually joined in the dancing.  I was not brave enough to try it.  I hope this works.

Our next adventure in Kuala Lumpur was a Thai Buddhist Temple.

A very beautiful and amazing place.  They were celebrating something so there were monks chanting and people were marching around. 

It is so interesting to see the way that other cultures worship.

This is one of their Goddesses.

Worshippers were making their offerings to these Gods and Goddesses.

I was intrigued by this very large Buddha. 

The reason we were in Kuala Lumpur was to attend a Zone/Mission Tour Conference where we were taught by a general authority Elder Evans, who is in the Asia Area Presidency.  It was a very wonderful meeting and I am so thankful to know that we are taught by God's servants here on earth and  can learn the things

He wants us to know so that we can better serve here in the Singapore Mission. 

I feel blessed to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Memories with our JB Branch

The Elders had FHE in our home for two part-member families in the branch. 

These two young moms don't come to church often and their boys can't come unless it is a school holiday.  The evening was fun and the Elders taught them the lesson about

Putting on the Whole Armor of God. 

The boys seemed to enjoy it and hopefully they understood the meaning of what they were being taught. 

We love being able to meet with families as they are taught gospel lessons by the Elders.  This lesson was in Chinese, so we didn't really participate much, except for the refreshments.  We had ice cream with homemade hot fudge sauce, which was a hit.

Our Branch Mission Leader Bro Ben was here with us too. 

He is a great support to the missionaries in the JB Branch.

Sometimes the video games are just more important than ice cream.

This is the JB Branch RS 175th Birthday Celebration. 

There weren't many sisters there but we had a good time.  

  We learned about the changes in the Relief Society purpose and why they were made. 

 

I'm not sure what "Miss Bossy Pants" was telling them, but they were certainly listening.

RS President, Louisa (her English name)   making the ceremonial

first cut from the RS Birthday Cake.

Happy 175th Birthday Relief Society

Memories from our Masai Branch

We love working with the saints here in Malaysia.  This is the Masai Branch which are Malay speakers and so I don't understand much of what is said in our meetings.  I have tried to learn the language but this old brain just doesn't seem to want to remember it.

The Relief Society had their RS 175th Birthday Party, which was a BBQ at the home of the Relief Society President, Sister Norma Tan.  She is such a lovely example and because the sisters all love her, she is able to get them to attend. 

Many of these sisters and their daughters are not able to come to church on Sunday so it was good to have them come to the party.   They really love being together.

They asked the missionaries to sing a song,

so we recruited some of the young people to help us out. 

This is Norma, our beautiful hostess.

This turned into a family activity, so it was fun for kids, teens , moms and some dads and young men.

The Elders are always happy to show up when there is food.  We love them.

This beautiful family is preparing to go to the Manila Temple in June.  

They were baptized in 2012 and are some of the very strong members of the Branch. 

We love them and will be privileged to go with them to Manila. 

We are teaching them the Temple Preparation classes right now.

I just wish that language was not such a barrier, because there is so much I would love to say to them, but I just can't communicate in their language.

Vianni, Ester, Brain, Sira and Taha

Since we began having church in the afternoon in this branch, we have been having children come so it was necessary to have Primary. 

Who would have thought that at my age, I would be teaching Primary.  It has been very challenging, fun, rewarding and tiring, but I am so thankful that now the children can come to church and learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Thank goodness for the internet so I can find lots of things to help teach and entertain them for two hours. Vianni has been called as a Primary teacher so she helps me a lot.

They are working on one of the Book of Mormon activities

They love to sing the Primary songs which are new to many of them.