Training in my future?

i can't believe that the fourth of July is almost around the corner, crazy. this is going to be my first fourth of July that i celebrate on soil that isn't consecrated by liberty, justice, freedom and democracy. it is going to be a tough holiday to get through. the truth is the holiday is just made more fun because my companion is from Australia, and there is another elder from Canada, and so, especially this close to independence day, we take every opportunity that we can to wave our proverbial flag. yay for America. hopefully one of the elders will translate the star spangled banner into Malay, so take that, Malaysian government who gives religious freedom to everyone but Muslims.

we just had zone conference, and it was awesome. i had a really good talk with president Clark in our interview, about how it is easy to just glide on the surface of things, especially in missionary work, to do what is expected and go through the motions. but it is when you try with all your might that real things start to happen. he talked to me about when someone asks you to go a mile, go with him in twain, how all the blessings come during the second mile. so i have been thinking about that a lot. i love zone conference, it really revs you up and gets you excited about the work. the next zone conference is soon too, at the end of July, hooray.

your email turned out to be right on the money, dad. i just found out that when sister seve goes home, i am going to get a brand new missionary. so i definitely have been thinking a lot about missionary work and what i need to work on. when i found that out, i told sister seve we had to do role plays every day, because i have no idea how to commit people to baptism, help them get over concerns, how to get referrals, i don't know anything! but it won't be for awhile, and i know i have come a long way. the other day, we met this awesome family (already members) and it was just amazing to me how these phrases in Malay were just coming out of my mouth. like they were just falling out, no problem. i wish that would happen when i taught, but i still have a lot of time left to learn. let's just hope i don't mess this sister up for the rest of her mission.

anywho, things are going good, we have two people now that are coming closer to baptism. one is a lady who is really good, but her husband is a complete bum. he just come home drunk everyday after work, and won't watch her kids when she wants to go to church. what a piece of crap. oh well, i hope she keeps going strong, and her husband lets her be baptized. the other is this old old man who can't hear very well and only speaks Iban. he is sweet, and he hasn't smoked for two weeks already, he is so cool.

i really like the gospel and being here in Malaysia. you can really see how the gospel just rings true to people. usually we don't have any problem teaching the word of wisdom or the law of chastity, because people already know (well, with the exception of coffee and tea) that those things just aren't good things do be doing. they already know, it just rings true to them. its cool.

anywho, family, I'm not used to writing emails this long, i better sign out. but i love you, and things are doing really really good here.

sister Harrison

PS hi dad. dad, you would love the food here. everything is spicy, and i love it. they put chili sauce or peppers on almost everything. (its true, at McDonald's, you eat your fries with chili sauce instead of ketchup, it is delicious) and the curry here is to die for, just plain old Malaysian chicken curry, and it is so good. I'm going to have to learn how to make it so i can cook it for you guys when i get back. so i have developed quite the endurance for spicy food, i don't know if plain American spice will be enough for me when i get back.. just kidding.. i love you dad!