That Singapore Lifestyle Though

Elder Wang is a legend!

Hello everyone from Singapore, Singapore. I'm currently emailing at an internet store on Orchard Road. It's flipping weird to be here, but I'm so stoked. 

This week has been a crazy one!!! The adjustment from Malaysia to Singapore messed me up a little bit - for the first couple days, I felt really out of it. It was hard to focus, my whole senses felt fuzzy!! I had a REALLY hard time adjusting - the first worldness of the country and people is really night and day different from Malaysia. I think I was having major sensory overload, as compared to Malaysia. I started to stress pretty badly. Oh well. Everything takes time!! I fasted yesterday with the ward for Elder Chia from the Ang Mo Kio ward (he had a brain blood clot recently), and also that Heavenly Father would help me adjust to this new area and experience, and yesterday I felt the burden lifted off me. I really know it is true - God will help us overcome as we fast!! Though my adjustment to this city was stressful, I'm glad I had that experience because it strengthened my testimony of how powerful fasting is. 

Elder Wang, my new companion, is a legend. He's from mainland China, and how I wish I could record every word that comes out of his mouth. He is hilarious. You all would love him. We whitewashed our area (meaning we're both brand new to Ang Mo Kio), which also means we have a lot of work to do. Right now we have virtually no investigators, but by the time we email next week, we plan on having changed that :) We are both nearing the end of our missions (four months to go) so we're working super hard!!!

Speaking English is way fun. It's also funny to shock some people with my Malay skills. Speaking Chinese isn't that big of a deal to Singaporeans but knowing Malay is!! So that's pretty fun.

Well. My patriarchal blessings says I'm going to face trials on my mission, and I know that this difficult transition back into the first world is one of them!! Think about all the newness of this transfer:

- from Malaysia to Singapore (completely different styles of missionary work)

- non-American comp (1st one)

- whitewashing

- having a smartphone (all missionaries in Singapore have them)

- District Leader over 7 companionships, 6 / 14 missionaries are sisters!!!

- having no investigators right now

District Meeting should be a good one!! The whole district needs investigators (what I define as someone who actually wants to learn!!!). We really don't even have people to teach (those who will meet with us, but don't have legitimate interest), so I'm going to be training about how we can increase miracle findings by becoming increasingly specific in our prayers. Luke 18:1-8 (see below) is what gave me the inspiration. I'm really excited to bring the fire to Singapore. I want Singapore to be a place where everyone wants to be transferred. It's amazing here. Who says missionary work has to be slow? In fact, the odds of finding prepared people here are just as good as anywhere else!!! So let's turn up and GO!

Well, it's definitely a challenge, but, hey, it's going to be way fun!! I'm really grateful that Heavenly Father listens to our prayers. He really cares about us and is REALLY willing to help us overcome our weaknesses because - here's the best bit- He's the one who DESIGNED to give us them in the first place!! And He has done this so we can rely on him and on the grace of his Son. I'm grateful for the Gospel and my faith which allows me to overcome those emotions and experiences that have the potency to cripple. I'm grateful for a loving God who is always patient with us and just wants us to keep trying.

Love you so much!!!

See you next week!!!

Listen to this beautiful hymn and try not to weep!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsQ4NHCYrmg

Read this and tell me if you don't feel inspired!! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/latter-day-saints-keep-on-trying?lang=eng

Elder Clay Coleman

Luke 18: 1-8

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The last time I was in Singapore for Zone Conferences, I never dreamed I would soon be serving here