Elder and Sister Garrett in Singapore!: Interesting facts about Singapore

Hi All,

We didn't get a letter sent out last week due to a lack of time, but all is well in our Mission. We had 4 new sisters come in week before last along with their trainers. They were staying with us. We had to move them into a new apartment and get all their mattresses, bedding, chairs, etc for them. It was fun to be around Sisters and help. This week we had the Brown's come in. They are Family History missionaries from Kuala Lumpur. They came in on Tuesday and left yesterday. We really enjoyed having them here except we didn't get to spend much time with them. They are having great success in teaching the youth in the various areas to do family history work on the computer - the youth learn much faster than their parents!

Thursday night we picked up a young Elder from East Malaysia. He is a native of East Malaysia serving in his native country. He has been having severe intestinal problems. We brought him in to see a doctor in Singapore. The doctor is doing a colonoscopy tomorrow on him. We certainly hope he finds the problem. I guess this has been a recuring problem since he was 18. His mission name is Elder Tabiar (his real name is one no one can pronounce). He is a remarkable young man. Due to their poverty and his having to work to help support his family, he was unable to go to school. After he and one sister and one brother (he has seven siblings) joined the church, he decided he wanted to serve a mission. He taught himself to read and to speak English (although he is limited in his English). He has also taught himself to play the piano and does great at it. He can't read any notes, but plays by ear. He has the cutest smile and will not stay down due to his condition. He didn't want to come to Singapore to see the doctor. He wanted to keep working in his area and never complained even though he was so sick. He's had the option to stay with some of the local Elders who speak Malay, but he has wanted to stay here with us. He starts his colonoscopy "preparation" first thing in the morning. We sure hope the doctor can find out what is wrong.

Next weekend we are going to Kuala Lumpur for a Zone Conference and to meet with Elder Bednar. All missionaries from Singapore and West Malaysia will be attending except for one of our office Elders who was denied entrance into West Malaysia and probably Elder Tabiar. We pick up a new Senior Couple coming into the mission at 1:15 am Sunday morning and then leave after church Sunday afternoon by bus to KL. We will return on Tuesday evening. The Smith's are coming in for a visa run and will be at our house Monday - Friday. It will be a busy week for us!

Our 53rd anniversary was Tuesday so we took an evening and went with the Howarth's to see "The Lion King". It is on tour here and was wonderfu! If it comes to your area, it is definitely worth the money to go see it. Senior Missionaries do get to do some things the young Missionaries don't get to do!

We had a baptism yesterday here in Singapore and we have another one this evening so missionary work is moving along in Singapore, although not as fast as in Malaysia.

Some interesting facts we've learned about Singapore:
There are 40,000+ cabs
There are hundreds if not thousands of buses (we often wait for anywhere from 1 - 7 buses to pass to get out of our driveway).
The MRT (underground subway) system is wonderful. You can get almost anywhere in the city on one. They are clean, fast and safe.
The crime rate is extremely low as the punishment for any crime is swift and severe. The paper told of one person who was caught dealing a small amount of drugs and was given the death penalty.
Singapore is known as the "fine" city, as there are fines for anything from chewing gum, spitting on the street, jay walking, to throwing down trash. Cameras are everywhere!
The skyline is made up of giant cranes and building is going on everywhere.
90-95% of the residents live in high rise apartments - most government owned.
New land is constantly being reclaimed in the ocean surrounding Singapore - as there is no more available land. A lot of land has been set aside for natural areas however.
Parents are paid $25,000 to have a child as the birthrate is so low.
We have some rain almost everyday - we love rain and cloudy days as it cools things off.
Singapore is a beautiful, clean, modern and economically sound country/city.

We love serving the Lord in our small way here and feel very blessed to be able to be in Singapore. Missionary work is wonderful! We do, however, miss family and friends back home, but the time is flying by.

We love each of you!

Dave and Glonda (Elder & Sister Garrett)