This has been a great week. We had our missionary, Elder Schone, come back that was injured so severely about 10 months ago. The area Presidency said the chances of his returning to this mission were about a million to one! But he really wanted to return to this mission and the doctor's decided it was ok to come to Singapore - especially since the medical care here is so good. Although he probably won't be able to serve in Malaysia. He is a remarkable young man. He is working in the office with us as an Office Elder. He had only been out a couple of months when his accident happened and he feels he still has things to accomplish here. The entire zone went to the airport to meet him and then we had a dinner in his honor. It was a good day!
On Wednesday we had our Zone Conference for the missionaries serving in Singapore. President Clark spoke on the importance of overcoming temptations. Some of teachings were:
We either change the outside world of we change the inside world so nothing is tempting.
We have free agency to make a choice to resist temption - the choice is ours.
When temptation presents itself you must immediately and completely modify the situation.
If you can't change the situation, get out.
He talked for about an hour on this subject. He is a great teacher and everyone learned from him - it was especially applicable to todays world where so many things seem to be acceptable.
President Perkins (our Area Seventy from Hong Kong) and Elder Osguthorpe (the General Sunday School President from SLC) were both here. They met with just the missionaries from 2-4. What a great meeting. Elder Osguthorpe is a professor at BYU and then 2 days a week he meets with all the auxiliary leaders in SLC. He is on a tour of Asia for 10 days. He arrived in Singapore around noon and then left at 9 p.m. for India. He is in charge of teaching in all organizations of the Church. One of the things he said was - (a quote from Pres. Bednar):
"Teaching is not talking and telling, teaching is observing and listening so that we can discern and then know what to say."
He said that President Monson always tries to be an answer to some else's prayers. We need to try to do the same. Elder Osguthorpe used to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He and his wife wrote a Primary song about Ammon (Book of Mormon hero) called the 3 D's of success -
"Desire, decision, determinination, yes! These are the 3 D's, the 3 D's of success. So when you are discouraged and you don't know what to do, remember Ammon's 3 D's and the Lord will help you too." (we didn't get the 2nd verse down). It was really fun. He had everyone singing it.
He also said we are engaged in an amazing work in every corner of the world! He talked a lot about teaching in the home and the qualities we learned from our parents. He had a lot more to say, but we didn't get much of it down.
That evening from 6-8 they held a Stake Fireside for all members of the Stake. We feel very privileged to get to spend time with them with just the missionaries and to learn from them. What remarkable, wise and loving men they are.
The elders have been teaching a young woman for about a year. She said she knew the church was true, but didn't want to go against her parents in the Philippines and join the church. She decided on Thursday that she wanted to get baptized on Friday! She was returning to the Philippines on Saturday and she felt like she couldn't leave without joining the church as she knew it was true. The Elders were scrambling, but got things arranged and the Filippino ward came out in force to support her. Plus they all brought food to share afterwards (they love food for any activity). She is truly a great young woman.
Today, Sunday, was spent in JB as usual. We go to both branches. The JB branch had 10 Indian investigators there today. The people are great about sharing the gospel with others. We made it there and back without any problems - which makes it a great day!
We hope you all have a great Labor Day. For us it will be a day in the office as usual - doing the Lord's work and making another run to the airport. We love and miss all of you.
Elder & Sister Garrett (mom & dad, grandma & grandpa, relatives and friends)
Reeka, the Filippino girl baptized Friday night by Elder Nowland (office Elder). Elder Schone is the Elder on the far right.
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