Rainy Day

So today was my p-day and we had a great zone activity where we played badminton.  Naturally I won, and was crowned badminton champion.  It was a competitive last match, but my competitive nature kicked into gear and there is that.  Anyway, the excitement of the day came after we played.  We were all getting ready to head back when it started to rain, really hard.  Within 10 minutes the streets were an inch in water.  We were waiting it out but it wasn't looking like it was getting any better, so we just got on our bikes and left.  We are a 40 minute bike ride from our house... it was brutal.  By the time we started biking the water level was up to our feet on our bikes.  But the story gets better.  About 10 minutes into biking it starts to thunder and lighting.  As we were pulling out of a stop light, a massive thunderbolt strikes, and I thought I was going to die, because it was so close.  You could feel your hairs rise!  Anyway, the thunder was so loud that all the cars in the parking lot next to the road started going off, it was great!  It never stopped raining as we biked home, in fact it got stronger.  And every time I heard thunder, I thought I was going to die.  The water eventually got too deep for motorcycles, and then for cars.  Lucky us, we had our bikes.  It’s probably the only time I have ever been thankful to have a bike rather than a motorcycle.  Everyday I curse every motorized vehicle that passes me, as I struggle with every hill in this massive sauna called Malaysia.  Riding bikes for 2-4 hours a day is really fun.  Being so sweaty you look like you are wet is really fun.  No one we ever meet has air conditioning, so sometimes we take refuge in the ATM rooms until the police officer tries to tell us to go... but can't speak English.  So we play dumb and stay a few more minutes, it’s actually quite funny, playing the white-man-card is very effective.  Although, I am getting dark enough now that sometimes people think that I’m a native... good thing my companion is the whitest person I’ve ever met :)   Anyway, it was the most enjoyable bike ride I have ever had in my entire life, I was wet, actually felt cold, and the fastest on the road :)  Oh, and the cemetery next to our house flooded, it looks really creepy. And the last 10 minutes of the bike ride I may or may not have taken my shirt off.  I got a lot of strange looks, but I never felt more free, and cold, absolute bliss.

Jesus Christ Changes Lives

So I thought I would update the blog by saying things are going great here in Malaysia.  There is so much work to be done here that it feels overwhelming at times, but the zone is amazing and I really like interacting with them all.  I think one of the highlights would have to be the life style.  Kuching is a beautiful city with wonderful people.  I love interacting with the members here and teaching people about Jesus Christ.  It has become my life, and will be for the next 9 months more!  The beaches here are sublime.  Just last week we went to a national park called Bako, took a 20 minute speed boat ride and hiked for an hour to get to one of the prettiest beaches I have ever seen!  The food is amazing, take your pick, Chinese, Malay, Iban, and even McDonalds!  Yes I finally live in a place that has a McDonalds!  I love it, never thought I would say that but I do, I love it.  Next week I go to Singapore again and I have my eye set on some Carls Junior and some Subway.

On a more spiritual note, one family that we are teaching has been sober for 1 week!  Record!  It has been so rewarding to be there every step of the way in their conversion process.  We met them 2 months ago and the changes that they have made in their life are HUGE.  I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ does make families happier, no doubt in my mind.  People respect each other more and people make better decisions when Christ is leading the way.  For those of you who are members of the church, cherish it, it is so valuable.  Any for those that are not, go find a guy in a white shirt, tie and name tag and ask him why he is happy doing what he does.

Ramadan

So next week is going to be a very special week.  I get to go back to Bintulu and see all of my recent converts!  We have a zone meeting there so we fly out next Wednesday and are there for three days.  I can't wait!  On another note, the days here have started to get hotter as the dry season is kicking into full swing.  Last Friday Ramadan started so for the next month the Muslims will be fasting.  The good part of this is ever evening at around 6:30 there are amazing street markets that pop up to serve the large number of Muslims observing the fast.  The food is delicious and cheep, what more could you ask for.  But I have to say, I will look forward to not eating fried food when I get back home.  EVERYTHING is fried here, everything.  Good thing I’m not good at getting fat :)  Anyway, my life is quite nice, I really enjoy it, hope you guys love your life too!

"Yay, I have worms!"

So as most of you know I just moved to Kuching, previously being in Bintulu.  Bintulu was a wonderful place, but one of the poorest in all of Malaysia.  As a result, most of the drinks that people offered us were made with non-filtered water.  This wasn't too big a deal until I started losing weight, quite a bit of weight.  So I consulted with the mission doctor and I will be taking de-worming medicine!  Yay, I have worms!  Maybe now I can get fat and not have stomach problems all the time :)  For all you in America that want to lose weight, I’d be more than happy to send you unfiltered water from Malaysia.  I’m sure it will work wonders, as it did with me.  I'll be getting the medicine sometime next week, and I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.  I will now be taking bets as to how many worms and how long... just kidding, but really, if you want to.

Picture

From another missionary serving with Micah who wrote this home:

"We were sad that Elder Putnam got transferred but he is happy because he was made a zone leader in Kuching (bigger city in E. Malaysia) AND he is happy to be leaving the house they have lived in because it's had problems (like when heavy rains come, sewage water back up into their bath and sometimes kitchen) and they couldn't find another house that the mission could afford. The houses behind them look better than they really are.  He and elder Teh both leaving for Kuching, the other 2 elders stay put."

Zone Leader and Transfer

I am officially a zone leader now!  I just got the call and I will now be transferring to Kuching, the capitol of Sarawak, East Malaysia.  There will be like 14 people in my zone I think.  I am really excited to move there but really sad at the same time because I have so many recent converts that I would have like to spend more time with.  But, it is kind of exciting to be a zone leader.  More of a chance to go to Singapore, monthly travel to Sibu, and apparently my area is way good.  We have this member that lives in the house right behind ours and she cooks for us every day, no lie.  The elders before had to run away from her because it was TOO much food.

I leave on Monday on a 12 hour bus ride to get there!  Ugh.

Wish me luck, I will let you know how things went next Wednesday.

Bathroom Finding

These last few days have been pretty difficult as far as finding new people goes. When you live in an area where 90% of the people are Muslim it makes it really difficult.  And because Malaysian law says that it is illegal to approach or teach Muslims, our pool of potential investigators is small.  We go knocking, we ask people where Christians live, we see people in Pasars and try to talk to them, but most of the time it just doesn't work.  So yesterday my companion and I heard of this brand new way of meeting people.  So revolutionary and so effective that it would work anywhere, even here in Sandakan.  The method is called bathroom finding. It involves, the missionary, me, needing to use the bathroom but having no public restrooms.  We find a nice looking neighborhood and knock on the first promising door.  What happens after than is i make a very pained expression and say "Maaf gangu tapi saya perlu guna tandas! Boleh kah saya gunu tandas mu skejap sajah?"  They look at you like what are you doing, but you keep on talking before they can say no.  You quickly say, "skajap sajah, saya dari Amerika and tak tahu di mana ada tandas, minta!"  Then they say, OK.  You go use their restroom while your companion has a prime time to talk to them.  You take your time take a look around the house to make sure they arn't Muslim and then make your way back to the front door.  If they aren't Muslim its a thumbs up and you continue talking to them for as long as they will let you.  This does work!  We were able to talk to these two ladies for over 30 minutes, and they were Christian!