June 24, 2018
Hey Everyone!
This week was craaaaazy. Probably the most out of the ordinary week I've ever had. Things lead us to end up getting kicked out of Malaysia until we go back to the USA. So. That was pretty epic.
It allllllll started Monday morning when we packed up a short and pair of pants and flew to Singapore for zone Conference. We had a good time flying over, walked around, and went to conference at night. Nice message. Tuesday morning, woke up, went to zone Conference all day, nice message, I gave my dying testimony, and then went home again. Wednesday morning, wake up, and head to the airport in the afternoon. We got on a plane to go back to Malaysia, and we were excited because we were going to get dinner with Kristoforus for his birthday. So we get off the plane, and split up in immigrations. I watched elder Housley go through, and he got sent to the back room. So I was kind of laughing that he might get chopped out since we had had the conversation a lot about it happening, but I was really confident I'd be ok since I had my return to the USA ticket. So I slap my passport on the counter, then the lady says something along the lines of I need a special visa or permit or something to be a volunteer for my church here, then tells me to go to the back room. Elder Housley was gone already when I got to the back room. So I wait in like with a bunch of Indonesians, Filipinos, Saudi Arabians, Nigerians, and Indians. I'm the only white guy. But it's my turn, I slap my passport down let her give me the lecture on how I'm not allowed to do what I've been doing, then I say I just need a month and give her my flight plans home. She said it didn't matter and that I wasn't allowed in the country anymore. Then sent me sit on a chair for a while. So I sat and sat and sat, wondering where elder Housley went. Then I got an email from him (only form of communication) saying that he was just wandering around the airport trying to buy a ticket back to Singapore because they just told him to leave the country. After forever, a guy came and got me, and brought me to a holding area. Down the hall I could see all these guys in turbans and stuff. Somehow they all knew I spoke Malay, but I just pretended I didn't. And then we just talked and stuff for a while, and they said I should get a plane ticket really soon otherwise I'd have to stay the night. So they got me a ticket in the mission office, then I just sat there for a few hours before getting on my plane to leave. They were supposed to keep my passport away from me, but they ended up giving me my passport on the plane. So I checked out the super epic not allowed back in stamp in the back of my passport, and some fancy paperwork. But they took it back when they realized I wasn't supposed to have it yet. But we landed in Singapore (all this time, elder Housley goes into the holding cell with 60 other men that weren't allowed in for the night) and I was escorted by 2 people to the immigration place in Singapore. So everyone that works in the airport in singapore speaks Malay. I don't know if they do it so that white people don't understand or what, but it was really funny listening to what they were saying. Anyway, they quizzed me a bit, called president Simmons, and then I talked with my escorts forever. They spoke Malay, so I spoke Malay, and they loved it. We had a great time talking together. But they let me in for the rest of my mission! So I got transferred to Singapore! Thursday, we just followed to the next zone conference since President didn't have time to think of what to do with us, but Friday, we got our new areas and companions!
My new companion is Elder Crowell from North Ogden! Funny guy, lots of fun. We've had a blast so far. We're in the woodlands ward, but it's combined with the bedok ward, because all of the American families (3/4 of the ward) went to America for the summer! So my entire time here, it'll be combined! But this is the first branch I've served in that has white people. Our bishop is super cool, and tons of cool members. Everyone is loaded. Super different than Malaysia. But it's gonna be awesome! People here are suuuper friendly. It's way weird. So it's really easy to find really well off people that want to learn! We found 4 really good new people between Friday and Sunday!
Hey Everyone!
This week was craaaaazy. Probably the most out of the ordinary week I've ever had. Things lead us to end up getting kicked out of Malaysia until we go back to the USA. So. That was pretty epic.
It allllllll started Monday morning when we packed up a short and pair of pants and flew to Singapore for zone Conference. We had a good time flying over, walked around, and went to conference at night. Nice message. Tuesday morning, woke up, went to zone Conference all day, nice message, I gave my dying testimony, and then went home again. Wednesday morning, wake up, and head to the airport in the afternoon. We got on a plane to go back to Malaysia, and we were excited because we were going to get dinner with Kristoforus for his birthday. So we get off the plane, and split up in immigrations. I watched elder Housley go through, and he got sent to the back room. So I was kind of laughing that he might get chopped out since we had had the conversation a lot about it happening, but I was really confident I'd be ok since I had my return to the USA ticket. So I slap my passport on the counter, then the lady says something along the lines of I need a special visa or permit or something to be a volunteer for my church here, then tells me to go to the back room. Elder Housley was gone already when I got to the back room. So I wait in like with a bunch of Indonesians, Filipinos, Saudi Arabians, Nigerians, and Indians. I'm the only white guy. But it's my turn, I slap my passport down let her give me the lecture on how I'm not allowed to do what I've been doing, then I say I just need a month and give her my flight plans home. She said it didn't matter and that I wasn't allowed in the country anymore. Then sent me sit on a chair for a while. So I sat and sat and sat, wondering where elder Housley went. Then I got an email from him (only form of communication) saying that he was just wandering around the airport trying to buy a ticket back to Singapore because they just told him to leave the country. After forever, a guy came and got me, and brought me to a holding area. Down the hall I could see all these guys in turbans and stuff. Somehow they all knew I spoke Malay, but I just pretended I didn't. And then we just talked and stuff for a while, and they said I should get a plane ticket really soon otherwise I'd have to stay the night. So they got me a ticket in the mission office, then I just sat there for a few hours before getting on my plane to leave. They were supposed to keep my passport away from me, but they ended up giving me my passport on the plane. So I checked out the super epic not allowed back in stamp in the back of my passport, and some fancy paperwork. But they took it back when they realized I wasn't supposed to have it yet. But we landed in Singapore (all this time, elder Housley goes into the holding cell with 60 other men that weren't allowed in for the night) and I was escorted by 2 people to the immigration place in Singapore. So everyone that works in the airport in singapore speaks Malay. I don't know if they do it so that white people don't understand or what, but it was really funny listening to what they were saying. Anyway, they quizzed me a bit, called president Simmons, and then I talked with my escorts forever. They spoke Malay, so I spoke Malay, and they loved it. We had a great time talking together. But they let me in for the rest of my mission! So I got transferred to Singapore! Thursday, we just followed to the next zone conference since President didn't have time to think of what to do with us, but Friday, we got our new areas and companions!
My new companion is Elder Crowell from North Ogden! Funny guy, lots of fun. We've had a blast so far. We're in the woodlands ward, but it's combined with the bedok ward, because all of the American families (3/4 of the ward) went to America for the summer! So my entire time here, it'll be combined! But this is the first branch I've served in that has white people. Our bishop is super cool, and tons of cool members. Everyone is loaded. Super different than Malaysia. But it's gonna be awesome! People here are suuuper friendly. It's way weird. So it's really easy to find really well off people that want to learn! We found 4 really good new people between Friday and Sunday!
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| Elder Fogth |
So Friday, I figured out our area had no investigators. So we went out and
worked! We met Zion, who was really interested in how he could know if God was
real, we met Yan Wei, who wanted to know what his purpose in life is, and we
met Keith and his girlfriend, that wanted to know if God was really there and
what His expectations for them were. I feel like in Singapore, I can really
apply what Preach my gospel says. In Malaysia, it's pretty different, but here,
everything directly applies in it. So. Preach my gospel is mega useful in
Singapore. We've been lighting up the world here with the gospel. People love
it and are super willing to commit it seems like. I guess we'll see how willing
they are to commit in the next 3 weeks, but they gave super solid commitments
for our first lesson, so that was good.
Saturday and Sunday were good. Mainly just getting to know the area and members. Not tons happened, but we taught lots of people. It was good. It was an eventful week, but I can't really remember what else happened.
Serving in Singapore is super weird. I feel like I'm on vacation whenever I walk outside. Everything here is just so nice. It's hard to believe that I'm serving in such an awesome place! Haha! I love it here! I'm definitely missing Puchong, but I'm gonna love Singapore! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Ben Mullins
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| Parakeet in Singapore |
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| Jumping photo |
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| A zone conference play |
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| Buddhist temple |
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