In Miri with a new companion

Dear Family,

Let me begin with a story:
In our quest for an example, we need not necessarily look to years gone by or to lives lived long ago. Let me illustrate. Today Craig Sudbury presides over a ward here in Salt Lake City, but let me turn back the clock just a few years to the day he and his mother came to my office prior to Craig’s departure for the Australia Melbourne Mission. Fred, Craig’s father, was noticeably absent. Twenty-five years earlier, Craig’s mother had married Fred, who did not share her love for the Church and indeed did not belong to the Church.

Craig confided to me his deep and abiding love for his parents. He shared his innermost hope that somehow, in some way, his father would be touched by the Spirit and open his heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He pleaded earnestly with me for a suggestion. I prayed for inspiration concerning how such a desire might be rewarded. Such inspiration came, and I said to Craig, “Serve the Lord with all your heart. Be obedient to your sacred calling. Each week write a letter to your parents and, on occasion, write to Dad personally and let him know that you love him, and tell him why you’re grateful to be his son.”

He thanked me and, with his mother, departed the office. I was not to see Craig’s mother for some 18 months. She came to the office and, in sentences punctuated by tears, said to me, “It has been almost two years since Craig departed for his mission. His faithful service has qualified him for positions of responsibility in the mission field, and he has never failed in writing a letter to us each week. Recently my husband Fred stood for the first time in a testimony meeting and said, ‘All of you know that I am not a member of the Church, but something has happened to me since Craig left for his mission. His letters have touched my soul. May I share one with you?

“‘Dear Dad, Today we taught a choice family about the plan of salvation and the blessings of exaltation in the celestial kingdom. I thought of our family. More than anything in the world, I want to be with you and with Mother in that kingdom. For me it just wouldn’t be a celestial kingdom if you were not there. I’m grateful to be your son, Dad, and want you to know that I love you. Your missionary son, Craig.’

“Fred then announced, ‘My wife doesn’t know what I plan to say. I love her and I love our son, Craig. After 26 years of marriage I have made my decision to become a member of the Church, for I know the gospel message is the word of God. I suppose I have known this truth for a long time, but my son’s mission has moved me to action. I have made arrangements for my wife and me to meet Craig when he completes his mission. I will be his final baptism as a full-time missionary of the Lord.’”

A young missionary with unwavering faith had participated with God in a modern-day miracle. His challenge to communicate with one whom he loved had been made more difficult by the barrier of the thousands of miles which lay between him and his father. But the spirit of love spanned the vast expanse of the blue Pacific, and heart spoke to heart in divine dialogue.

No hero stood so tall as did Craig, when in far-off Australia he stood with his father in water waist deep and, raising his right arm to the square, repeated those sacred words: “Fred Sudbury, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”

This is amazing and really stands out to me! The example you give to others is so important! Live your life every day as if the Savior was beside you.

This week has been full of good byes. Every companionship in our zone was affected by this transfer. My new comps name is Elder Wadsworth. He is also the new District Leader. I am still in Miri, East Malaysia. I will hit 6 months in Miri this transfer and that is 1/4 of my mission in one area. Crazy! Elder Wadsworth is from America, I think, he is about 7 weeks older than me and super funny. We are going to have a great time. We knew each other in the MTC. I am so excited.

My favorite investigator is back and he has cut back a lot on drinking and smoking and wants us to come over a lot because he feels so happy when we do. Also Bruce Lee has been less stubborn. Frank the Guy that we always get ice cream from and 100 pluses from now has a Plan of salvation Pamphlet and is willing to hear more. It has over all been a really good week.

Regarding the newspaper article picture: It is about our free English class! it talks about how we are helping people learn English so they can help further their lives. Yes that is a flyswatter that my companion is holding…yep there was a bug on the board. Just kidding, the flyswatter is used as part of a game with English that me and Elder Schuetz made up.

My whole bike tire blew up this week, the tire has a big hole in it... I am not sure how, I just bought that tire 2 weeks ago.

Well I got to go love you!!!

Elder Fletcher

Derek is on the right next to the white board

 

Bike tire blowout in less than 2 weeks

Superbowl and Valentines letters

2/9/2014

It is so great to hear from you!

Thanks for letting me know about the Super bowl. I didn't hear about it! Sounds like a crazy game. It always seems like some of those big games turn out to be flops just like the BYU bowl game did. This is what I heard from everybody about it. Maybe BYU will be better next year!

It sounds like it is still pretty cold over there. We just got out of the cold season! It got pretty cold here J Just kidding, it felt cold but it was only like 70 degrees. Haha.

I am glad you guys are doing great!

I have been doing great this week. Except for ever body seeming to be on edge and there has been a lot of stress for the Chinese New Year. I have been working double time to be the peace maker over here. Despite the stress, something really cool happen yesterday. Everyone got fired up to do member missionary work. Everyone is now helping out. The branch president from a long time ago stopped by to visit. He bore a powerful testimony about member missionary work and how that will help the full time missionaries so much! :) It was great! Everyone is now getting on bored with it! Even our less actives are helping out.

Health wise I am doing ok.. kinda.. I have been sick with a head/throat cold all week as well as my knee has started to act up. I am not sure why, but it hurts to walk around, although, I can ride my bike just fine. If my knee hurts next week, I will go to the doctor. It just takes time away from the missionary work.

Here is the quote of the week:

A member said over the pulpit this week and said "we have a mickey mouse in the white house so the second coming is on its way!" haha it was so funny!

The Elders in Singapore went to go visit Marie Lofthouse’s grandson. They couldn’t find him. The address she gave is missing an apartment number. He also isn’t answering the phone. Please get with her, the missionaries really want to talk to him.

Thank you so much J You guys are the best!! I love you so much!

Love your son,

Elder Fletcher

2/16/2014

Prison warden Kenyon J. Scudder has related this experience: A friend of his happened to be sitting in a railroad coach next to a young man who was obviously depressed. Finally the man revealed that he was a paroled convict returning from a distant prison. His imprisonment had brought shame to his family, and they had neither visited him nor written often. He hoped, however, that this was only because they were too poor to travel and too uneducated to write. He hoped, despite the evidence, that they had forgiven him.

To make it easy for them, however, he had written them to put up a signal for him when the train passed their little farm on the outskirts of town. If his family had forgiven him, they were to put a white ribbon in the big apple tree which stood near the tracks. If they didn’t want him to return, they were to do nothing, and he would remain on the train as it traveled west.

As the train neared his home town, the suspense became so great he couldn’t bear to look out of his window. He exclaimed, “In just five minutes the engineer will sound the whistle, indicating our approach to the long bend which opens into the valley I know as home. Will you watch for the apple tree at the side of the track?” His companion changed places with him and said he would. The minutes seemed like hours, but then there came the shrill sound of the train whistle. The young man asked, “Can you see the tree? Is there a white ribbon?”

Came the reply: “I see the tree. I see not one white ribbon, but many. There must be a white ribbon on every branch. Son, someone surely does love you.”

In that instant he stood cleansed by Christ.

His friend said, “I felt as if I had witnessed a miracle.”

I found this during personal study this week. I love the power of love and forgiveness. It is so amazing to see the love that others show. The love we show to others directly affects their lives. There are many good things we do, that we might not see the fruits of but no act of service of love is in vain it always is carried to human hearts by the Power of the Holy Ghost.

It has been a crazy week. It has been crazy with trying to figure things out, and helping people come unto Christ, the Word of wisdom, church councils, college and just tons of things have been on my mind.

My mission president has been talking to us all about our goals. He is very interested in our futures. I told me that he will write a letter of recommendation to get me into BYU if I really want to. But now, I don’t know if really want to. I know that I have tons of time to make this decision; it is just on my mind today. I am thinking about doing something in business management.

Well despite all these questions, I am doing great. I feel more spiritual then ever this week. I have had so many opportunities to bear my testimony. I am also a lot more confident in my Chinese. I actually like speaking Chinese more then English.

The pictures I included are of a monkey that was so cute! And a member that has about 70+ chickens for cock fighting. Very interesting!

 

 

 

 

Transfers are this week. Here is how you will know if I am getting transferred. On Saturday if I will withdraw $60 from the checking account, I am going to the east, $100, I will be in the west and nothing, I will either stay here or be going to Singapore. The money will be the cost to ship my bike. The mission will reimburse me for it, but I have to pull it out of the account because I will be all out. Oh and if I don’t email you on Monday, I will be training.

Well I love you guys so much!!

Love your son

Elder Fletcher

      

Chinese New Year

Jan 27^th,

Family,

 Oh wow looks like you guys are doing great.  I am so happy to see what you guys have been up to.   I had a dream last night all in Chinese.  I was explaining to these little kids how to play a game called stone.  It was really funny.  I think I will try it in real life and see how it works. 

This week has been super interesting.  This next week looks like it will be the same.  So, it is almost Chinese New Year.  Because of this, people are not interested with our message.  We have had trouble setting things up.  Although, the interesting thing is they all want us to come over and eat food.  But they don't want us to share a message.  Haha, we will anyways. 

Well this has been my week we taught our favorite investigator the message of the restoration.  He was really excited and said that he would read the book of Mormon and when he knows it is true, he will tell us that he wants to be baptized.  We are going to go over the word of wisdom with him when he gets back from Kuching.  He really needs it!    The Lord and the Holy Ghost will help him accept it.

This week we also got a little sick with sinus colds.  It has rained everyday none stop since Monday and so.....we get wet, then get cold and then we get sick.  We also bought a cake (for his birthday we assume) this week and ate it all gone.  Then we Timtam slammed, This is how you do it.  Bite off a corner of the top and a corner of the bottom of the Timtam.  Hold the Timtam in your mouth and dip the other end of it in the Milo and use it like a straw to suck up the Milo.  As you do this the Timtam starts dissolving.  The goal is to flip your head back and drop the Timtam into your mouth without dropping it into the Milo.  Oh and you can't use your hands. 

 

Milo http://www.nestleusa.com/Brands/Drinks/Milo

Tim Tam http://www.aussieproducts.com/timtam.asp

The APs came up this week, and that was cool!  We also moved our couch from the living room up to our study room.  It is now the inspiration loveseat.  We have put it to good use planning and such.  From the sounds of it, the next transfer  is on Feb 20.  This is one week earlier than expected, because president Mains is traveling. haha oh boy!!

Yes Dad, I actually refer to myself as Elder Fletcher in my head.  Ya, it is weird!  haha Derek just sounds funny!

Well, I love you guys so much! Oh and I want to start conditioning for the Iron Man so if you could send me some of the times and distances and orders and stuff that would be much appreciated.  love you guys so much!

 Elder Fletcher

Family “Did you get your package?”

Derek “yes I did!! it is so great!! haha i love it we have been playing with all the bouncy balls and poppers and wall climbers and everything!!! haha it was great!! it still is great!! thank you!!  I gave a popper to our security guard!! :) i did like the card!!

Proverbs 23:7 for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

 

Feb 2

Hey you guys. 

This week has been super crazy.  It has been Chinese New Year all week which means that nobody wants to meet and talk about the Gospel, but they all want us to come over and eat food.  I have biked further this week then I ever have before my mission; visiting everybody and eating food.  Biking on a full stomach doesn't always feel very good.  Chinese New Year night was crazy loud, I couldn't sleep.  If you thought there were a lot of fire works in America you are wrong.  Everyone on our street was lighting off firecrackers and big fireworks in the sky that were super loud, so we didn't sleep.  It was a crazy night.  And to top things off, our investigator went home to Kuching for the holiday. 

 Today, I am on splits with elder Kong.  He is so funny.  He is a big native and he makes jokes all the time.  This morning we had to go help set up for the Chinese new year party this Saturday, so i am a little late getting this email off. 

How are you all doing, it sounds like you all are really busy. Oh I found out that Makayla is going to Canada on her mission.  Tell Lexi that she will do great in Taiwan and that the language will come and not to get frustrated.  Her Chinese was way better then mine in high school, so she has more of a head start then I did.  If Kyle does more to Singapore, I am going to have to hunt him down to help us out.

well love you guys!!

Elder Fletcher

Birthday letter home

Birthday letter home

Jan 19^th, 2014

Advice to serve a mission:

I know that serving a mission has helped me out so much.  I was never a spiritual giant, before my mission, but I feel the Lords present more in my life every day.  If you have a remote desire, do it!  I won’t lie to you, a mission is one of the hardest things I have ever done.  It is harder then hitting people on the football field, harder then the sprint work outs for track, and harder then getting a concussion and not being able to play football my senior year and harder than tearing my hamstrings and not being able to place at state, despite knowing I could.   But I know it is so worth it!  The change you will see in people’s lives is something I wouldn't trade…ever!  I love being out here helping people remember Jesus! I love the Savior and I need him every day.  I can't do this work alone but that is the great thing about being a missionary I have been called and I am set a part to have the Lords help in this work.

Miracles of the Week:

Miri Chinese Elders: Elder Mitchell and Elder Fletcher
These Elders had an investigator who was having a hard time praying. Consequently, he was not progressing. They decided to read 1 Nephi Chapter 1 with him just as Elder and Sister Wilson taught. When they read the verse that told the story of Lehi receiving the answer to his prayer in a vision, the investigator interrupted and told them that this story was "incredible". He explained that previously he had not known if God would answer a sinner’s prayer, but now he understands that even though he is a sinner, God will answer his prayers. This investigator has been praying ever since and is now progressing toward his baptism.

“President Ezra Taft Benson said that missionaries “need to show how [the Book of Mormon] answers the great questions of the soul.” Preach My Gospel, pg.107

This week has been great!

Tuesday: we had dinner with a family in the branch and shared a nice message with them.  Later that night, when we arrived at our investigators house for our appointment,  we found him drunk...it was sad...I love him so much and want the best for him!

Wednesday: We went and visited all of those whom have difficulty coming to church on a consistent basis and they all said they didn't have time for us.   We went knocking on doors for a little bit, said good bye to other missionaries and went to teach English class.

Thursday was our weekly planning meeting and went to go see a member of the branch and his mom.  We taught about the Book of Mormon but his mom wasn't interested any more.

Friday: We went to go see another investigator and he wasn't home.  We helped a member of the branch prepare their lesson plans for church, went knocking on doors and visiting less active families, and nobody wanted us to visit.  We had dinner and rechecked on our investigator and he still wasn’t home.

Saturday: We went out to the Miri town area to visit a lady that we called, she was really happy to meet us.  Her sister is a member in KL right now.  Despite really wanting to meet us, she told us that she is super busy with work and can’t focus on God.  We passed her off to the other Chinese Elders to work with.

Sunday: We went to church and then after, we practiced singing “Chai Shen Dao” for Chinese New Year.  It is really hard... but I think I have it down now.   We went home and then headed up to a member house and taught a lesson. By the end of the night, the member’s husband, who is a non member, prayed for the first time in his life.  About 10:30 that night I got a call from President Mains to wish me a happy birthday.

And this was a great week!

Speaking about people whom have chosen to go on a mission:

I am very excited that Jessica Harrison is completing her papers…Tell her to go Chinese speaking to Singapore, we need more Chinese speakers!

Heavenly father loves us so much.  It is amazing to feel the love he has for the people here.  I love that God really does know and love us individually.  I pray for each and everyone here in Malaysia. 

Love,

Elder Fletcher

Singapore Skyline

2nd week in Jan

Jan 12, 2014

We are going to the crocodile farm today in just like 2 seconds. I love you guys so much!!  Thank you for your amazing example!! I don't know about transfers yet, that is supposed to come about 2 in the afternoon but it is going to be big.   I love you guys.  My week has been great!! Singapore was amazing.  I loved it!  I have some pictures to send you guys.  Hopefully, I can later today.  Love you so much.   Wow! Dad has a better bike then me. Haha.  I am hoping to sell my bike to a new missionary coming in, so that way I can buy a better one.  Maybe.  Ok well I will write you in a little bit after I return from the Crocodile farm.

Thanks for the birthday wishes.  Haha.  I am so excited!  I can't wait!  A sister in the branch made us a cake this last week and alot of the members want to celebrate my birthday, but I might be leaving with transfers.  I will for sure let you know.  Love you guys.   Tell dad he has a super nice bike and I will have to get one when I get back so I can go biking with him.   However, I might be a little fat when I get back! hehe

For exercise I usually clean the house or work on my biceps and triceps or pecks or forearms.  I can't make my legs tired because I bike everywhere.  On occasion we run over to the shop lots and buy some butter pau's.  They are so good! :)   I won't be fat unless I serve in KL or Singapore. They don't bike there.   Well I am going to go so love you so much!! Thank you for your amazing example.

(After the Crocodile farm)

Well transfer news isn't in yet... They said they will call the zone leaders then send out an email but we haven't heard anything yet.  That means it is most likely a huge transfer. Woot woot!  It is a high possibility that I might stay here but who knows, it is still kind of crazy so we will have to see!

So anyways, the crocodile farm was pretty cool.  I feed a crocodile today,  that was fun.  I also got some really good pictures.  I am excited to share them with you.  So basically I am doing great in Miri and Miri is doing great!  We had 29 at sacrament meeting yesterday.  The highest in a while, we also have been teaching a man (Call him Sam) I Love him to death.   He has such a hard life and really wants to repent.  He has showed so many steps to progressing with life already and he really wants to change.  Every time we go over he thanks us and says that we are welcome anytime because he needs our help.   It is so exciting seeing him change.  The first night we met with him, my comp and I were a little sketched by him but I really have grow to love him.  I am so excited this week, we want to give him a baptismal date.  I am praying that he will accept it.

We spent alot of time in Singapore this week and saw some really amazing things.  We walked underneath the big hotel that was being built to get to the big mechanical trees. 

I met Elder Wilson (the second counselor in the Asia Area Presidency).  That was cool!  Elder Mitchell had a personal interview with him.   They didn’t interview everyone, it was just random.  Singapore airport has a butter fly garden that was cool, I have some pictures!! We learned alot about how to use the Book of Mormon more Effectively!!

I am sending you all post cards! oh and I found Elysa’s package.  The reason it didn't get to you guys is because I forgot to put USA on it... so they sent it back to the mission office... so sorry about that... I will get it sent out this week... and I will put USA on it!  All these pictures I am talking about I will be sending next week.  I forgot my card reader again.

Transfer news

Well I am staying with Elder Mitchell for the next 6 weeks in Miri. Elder Chan and Elder Kong stay the same.  Elder Wayment is going to Kuching as the zone leader, Elder Chirstensen is staying and being DL and Elder Griffen is coming in and Elder Schuetz and Elder Tan are staying here and Sister Anderson is training and Sister Trottier will be with Sister Taylor and Sister Caballa is going home and Sister Ballyntyne is going home! So yep!! crazy!

Well I love you guys so much!!

Love Elder Derek Fletcher

After Christmas

Dec 29, 2013

Thank you for the pictures, they look great.  Now I just wish I could figure out how to put them on my phone.  I am glad you had fun in Lava Hot Springs over Christmas.  Darn I miss Lava!  For Christmas we went around and visited tons of members and they fed us tons of food.  Good stuff!   I do keep a good eye on my new phone; it is my lifeline for learning Chinese.  It is funny about Elysa’s blond moment as you were eating at the Chuck wagon in Lava.  I have actually played a lot of pool here. The Chuck wagon has good food, oh man I want to go there when I get back.

Sounds like you were doing some good missionary work while you were up in Lava.  Members are so vital! Without members nothing happens!!

I am not sick but my comp might have a disease growing on his foot.  haha J  I keep telling him he is going to die.  He doesn't like it very much.   This week has been a lot of visiting people and just talking with them.   People don’t seem to like to talk about church things when it is Christmas.  It is weird.   Oh well, we still are building good friendships with them.  It looks like neither Elder Mitchell nor I will be getting transferred for at least 2 weeks.   They were supposed to be this week but I guess not.  Next week is zone conference and we go to Singapore and the week after is transfers and maybe I will get a chance to train!

We fly a ton.   The mission spends so much money on that.  It is crazy! Zone conferences and renewing Visas to stay out here cost so much money.

Love you guys got to go  J

Jan.5^th

That is awesome about Dad’s new church calling.  With dad in the Sunday school, I can see mom in young womens. What do you think?

I am glad to hear that mom is quilting and making more quilting friends.  It will be great to get your name out there with the other quilters.  That will definitely move the quilting business forward.

We leave Wednesday for Singapore at 840 and don't get back till Friday at 4.  I haven't spent very much time in Singapore so I don’t know much about the Ferris wheel. It sounds like it is fun.

Things are going great this week.  We have had a lot of miracles.   Last night we had the best lesson ever.  We went and visited sister Cai and we brought President Chan with us. He bore such a powerful testimony and committed them all to come to church.   Even the non-members in the family said they would come.  I am so excited.  It will be so good!!

We also got lost in Tudan last night, but a very nice man who was Muslim helped us find our way out.

We had our first priesthood class ever yesterday.  Woot woot woot!

I have had a couple headaches but it has been because of dehydration.   But I am hydrated again with no problems.

I sent home a picture of the outside of my apartment; it is the nicest house in the mission besides Singapore. It is called the Miri Mansion. Our landlord is Chinese so I go practice my Chinese with him when ever he comes over to weed or paint.  The Elders that live in Jin Hold have maids!!

Dad, don’t get jealous of my bike.  It actually is a pretty old bike.   The chain is rusty and some of the gears are missing. It has been a missionary bike for a very long time.  I am just grateful it works.  I am planning on selling it, I can ship it home to you if you want it dad.   Or you can buy some really nice ones here for like 1000rm which is like 333 American.  I could look in to the slow boating prices if you want??

Catch you next week

Christmas from Miri

Dec 15^th

I am going to go buy a web cam today. And since I don’t have a cord to charge my camera, I will buy one of those as well.  Thanks mom and dad, I am looking forward to Skypeing you on Christmas.

We have been working really hard in getting people back to church, but people are being stubborn.  It is so confusing that they don’t come to church, but they love for us to come to their houses.  Yesterday we had a Christmas party and it was a huge success we had so many people come.  The missionaries sung a song with santa i hope i can get a copy of it!!  We then played with the kids and shared a spiritual thought.  It was really great and there was TONS of food.  It was crazy!!

This week we are going to kuching for friday and Saturday. In order for me to Skype,  I will have to buy a web cam.  Do I have permission?   At the internet kadi there is a ton a swearing but it is all in chinese so i don't think you will understand alot of it so is that ok?? oh that would be so cool to get letters!! Adam Poll wrote me did you get it!! oh and i sent Elysa’s present and a bunch of letters I hope they get there! Let me know about that!! oh it sounds like the quilting business is taking off! good for you!!! Wow you guys sound like your doing so good!! love you all!!! Merrry Christmas!

Dec 23^rd

Kuching was great.   I was able to purchase a web cam and a new camera.  Thanks mom and dad!  I was able to get the extra Christmas package as well.  YA!!!!! i love the Books and the Stickers!! and the Thoughts!! and Everything thank you thank you thankyou thankyou!!! it was so good!!!!!  I look forward to talking to you on Christmas.

Dec 25^th.

From Dad- We were able to have a nice video conversation with Derek through Skype.  He looks very good!  We talked with him on our Christmas eve, which was his Christmas day. He and his companion ended up taking a taxi to the internet café due to bike trouble.  We talked for about an hour.  He was smiling from ear to ear and so were we.  I think we all needed it.  He has grown up and is serving well.