The Cereal Thief, JK!

as always, things are going pretty good. the last couple of weeks have been harder for me for some reason, but things are looking up. sister petty and i are getting along (even though she eats my cereal sometimes. i don't really mind, but it is like eight ringgit a box, i mean, come on, that is precious stuff) and we've started to go to the gym every morning, so i'm getting back into running. in the mtc i got really bad shin splints, so now i'm working myself up really slowly, it feels good. i miss running outside.

we had zone conference just this past week, and a member of the seventy came and talked to us, he is the area authority for asia, and he told us a lot of interesting things, that i think dad will especially like to hear. the asia mission area hold around half of the world's population, and there are more mulisms in our area than in the middle east and north africa. isn't that crazy? because malaysia and indonesia are huge muslim countries with big populations, and places like bangladesh, and even pakistan might be in our area. also he said that malaysia is the ninth fastest growing mission right now. cool huh? take that, all you south american missions!

i think we might be getting close to having a stake in malaysia, which would be so cool. it would not be in KK though, they are still too small. but there is going to be a temple here someday, and when that day comes, i will be so stoked. also when they finally print the book of mormon in malay will be a very good day.

anywho, just thought you would like to know that kind of stuff. they are making some changes in our mission, too. for visa runs we are supposed to go through in missionary clothes, and we might even start wearing our tags here. that would be crazy, i'm not sure if i like it. i bet other missionaries don't even think about there tags, but i think it is a lot easier without them. because we already look different, i mean, we are the only white people here, dressed up. and it is so much easier talking to people and bringing in the gospel, sort of slidding it in to the conversation. the other day i was talking to a girl, just about her, and what i was doing here. i said we just go around and teach people about our church. and then (like it had just occurred to me) i said hey, maybe we could come to your house, and teach you a little bit! and she said yes. but i feel with the tags our purpose would be staring people down. maybe not. maybe i'm just afraid of what i'm not used to. we will see if we will eventually have to wear them.

it is really good to talk about the gospel all day, about the thing that will help people the most. sometimes, when i walk into an apartment complex which is huge, i feel there is no way we could even have the time to knock this whole thing. and then only a few people would be willing to even listen, its like how much good can we really do, we can't even begin to make a dent. but then you work a little, and you carve out a little, and you find someone awesome that makes the whole thing worth it. so missionary work is hard and very good. i just need to get better at it, hehe. (listen to me, i have everything all figured out over here)

sister renee harrison