3 Jun 2019 - It's the Gawai Festival

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Braydon Carter <braydon.carter@missionary.org>
Date: Sun, Jun 2, 2019 at 11:15 PM
Subject: It's the Gawai Festival

Hello Everyone!!!

Selamat Gawai!!

This week has been so cool and I have been able to see things this week that I have never seen before!! In Malaysia, they have the coolest holidays. One of them is this next two weeks. It is called Gawai. It is a celebration for the harvest season, but the way that they celebrate is just so cool to me. To start off, it's just like thanksgiving, but it is spread out over the course of 2 weeks. The way that they Celebrate is through having things called open houses in their kampung, which is like their home village. A lot of new terms I know, but it's so cool. To simplify, basically all these aborigines have what's called an open house.  It's where people can come over when ever and then you all eat and mingle. It's seriously so cool. So we were able to go meet and talk with a lot of members that are returning and visit them at their open house. I have to be honest in saying I ate so much food over the weekend. Here are some pictures:

It was absolutely amazing as we were able to go out and see these very humble people and the places where they grew up or where they came from. I didn't understand a lot of what was going on because it was in Malay, but I was able to feel the spirit and the love as we went around and partook of their culture. Not only that, but as we were driving through the jungle, I took a step back and realized first how special life is and second how sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the moment. For example here is a good picture of what Elder Tauteoli and I did this week to enjoy the moment:

If we look wet, or if the picture seems to be blurry it's because it is. On Sunday, we had decided we need to go to a spot and go finding. We had picked a spot and then we were on our way. The second we got on our bikes it started to pour rain. I don't know if you can tell by my glasses but I couldn't see anything. I am grateful God protected us in those moments. As we were on about this 2 mile long bike ride, as the puddles of water were just soaking my legs, as the rain was pouring down on us and our things, I just started to laugh and feel the spirit so strong. I said out loud. "Man this gospel is so true! There is no way I would do this for something else" It made me realize how much I want to give it my all to share with those who need it. I want to be a light and share with the world.

That kind of leads me to the next part of my email for this week. This week was pretty crazy because we had all sorts of exchanges going on. We had different people in and out of the apartment, and it seemed like you were with a different group of missionaries every day. Which was totally true. But as I was out with one of the zone leaders, I walked away with something that I really really liked. We were talking about what made a great missionary, and something that he said was, "As long as it's within the white hand book and Preach My Gospel, let the missionary be a missionary." What he meant by that is everyone is different. As leaders, or even companions, it's not our place to change the way that a missionary wants to do missionary work. We all have our own styles. We all have our own goals and way of doing things. I think that's exactly how God is as well. As long as your are following the commandments and following God, let the people be the people. Let them grow and change. Let them create and grow their stories. I loved that so much.

Finally Elder Tauteoli and I are SOOO excited because with in the next two weeks we have a couple of baptisms coming up. It makes us so happy and we are excited to share the pictures and stories with you. I have to honestly say although missionary work can be hard sometimes. Sometimes that even means riding in a waterfall of rain. It's the best things ever. If you haven't thought about serving, think about it:)

I love you all so much and I hope you all have an amazing week.

Love,
Elder Carter