Gong Xi Fa Cai !

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).

Badmitton in Ipoh

This is Elder Forsyth after playing the NUMBER ONE badmitton player in the world. He's sweaty, but he's still smiling!

Celebrating the EIGHTH day of Chinese New Year

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY

Playing badmitton against the #1 player in the world

Elder Forsyth (R) after getting schooled in the art of badmitton

The 2 Malay Elders I was on exchanges with...
Elder Maughn (left), ME, & Elder Cazier (right)

So, while Elder Winham was at his district meeting in Singapore, I got to go spend a few days in Ipoh. There were 2 Malay Elders and me, the Chinese Elder. So we did a lot of tracting with mainly me talking because there are a lot of Chinese in Ipoh and at that moment I was the only Mandaring speaking missionary in all of West Malaysia. I got to do a lot of talking and teaching, During my two day stay, I taught 2 lessons by myself and mainly invited a lot of people to the New Year's Party at the church. On the second day, we were invited to play badmitton with some members. I was like "Pshh!! Badmitton is lame..." Nah! Not when your playing with Lee Cheng Weigh! (#1 badmitton player in the world), I was playing with 6 teenage boys that seem to have been playing since birth. They were nuts! I was never more sore and sweaty my entire life. It didn't matter how hard I tried, these guys were going easy on me and destroying me. During one play, my opponent beamed one and got me right in the forehead. Well uh, they thought that was pretty funny ha ha. I played some one-on-one against each one of them, and played some doubles, but my two companions didn't feel up to par to play on that level. I almost rolled both my ankles multiple times because I was diving and moving so fast. My shoulder still kills just from swinging so fast and hard. Badmitton is my new favorite sport. Most intense and tiring I've ever played (must play with native asians, your results may vary.) Ha ha that night we were treated to Pizza Hut.

Something funny about our companionship. Elder Whinham is the DL, and there TWO in our district, him and I. Haha Its pretty funny every week when we have a district meeting. We were asked to make it formal and legit, so Elder Whinham and I go to the church, we announce who's presiding (Elder Whinham), news, the two of us sing an opening and closing hymn, prayers... its pretty funny.

Chinese New Year FINALLY ended on February 17th! JEEZ! All we could do is spend time with members, but we got a lot of investigators to the New Year's Party. We have about 20 investigators now. And in answer to your question, YES, they do celebrate Valentine's Day here, but people go nuts here. They just start kissing people in restaurants, on busses, out in public, etc. So most of the time I say something along the lines of "Brothers and sisters, what are you doing?" That really catches them by surprise and they stop.