So Chinese New Year has been awesome! Going into it I thought it was going to stink because last year in Sitiawan it was basically 3 weeks of nothing... one week to prepare for New Year's, one week of celebrating, and another week of cleaning up. During this time not a single person would allow us to set up appointments with them or anything. I did get a lot of money though, so that was what I was looking forward to (haha), but this year was different. I did know that my new area, Sibu, was going to be different for New Year's, though, because it's known throughout the mission as the place to go for New Year's! Man were they right! Days before the New Year celebration people were launching fire works throughout the night causing us to stay up, not being able to sleep. We had so many people wave us down and let us in to come celebrate with them, as they tell us to help ourselves to tables of cookies, treats, cakes, and drinks. We didn't eat many meals because my stomach was full for days from so much sugar and sweets. Ha ha some days I felt so sick! We went to house after house after house, visiting and opening so many doors with so many people, allowing them to see and get to know missionaries. We shared as much as we could about the church at each house - sometimes lessons, sometimes just introducing ourselves and saying we're from the church. It depended on the people and circumstances, but we really did make an impression on a lot of people. We got to know a lot of the members so much better, meet their friends and families. Also just meeting with complete strangers and being able to celebrate with them and give us an opportunity to share the gospel with them was great.The night of Chinese New Year, from six at night till four in the morning, the whole sky was lit up. The whole town had such a fog over it from all the smoke that you'd cough in from all the smoke entering into your lungs. The streets the next day were completely covered with what is left from the fireworks. They're still covered with fireworks as people are still lighting them! Its way cool as they have massive, flag-pole length strands of firecrackers that make your ears ring as they're going off. It was way fun and cool. Things are the same here though. Just doing missionary work. The Elders in this house are great. It took some time for Elder Valentine and I to come out and be open with each other, but the longer we're together the more we like each other and become friends. So that's really good! We have a ton of new investigators from the New Year's, so right now we're just trying to meet with them and start really teaching. We have a ton that are pretty good quality and promising, so I'm excited! Sorry, I haven't had much time to write lately. We've been busy.
(Elder Forsyth was transferred in January to Sibu in East Malaysia and is now serving as District Leader. His new companion is Elder Valentine. Elder Forsyth and Elder Moody served for 9 months together in Miri. Elder Moody was transferred to Singapore where he is serving as Zone Leader).
