Thomas completed his mission and is now home

After 2 years of a very rewarding and successful mission, Thomas returned home from Malaysia this morning.  After meeting with Pres. Dillender, the stake president, he did the two things he missed the most: eating at In-And-Out Burgers and singing with his brothers.  This is the last posting of the blog.

In-And-Out

Singing with brother Ben

Singing with Brothers Ben and Adam

The Final Week

Over the last two months, he and others organized 2 successful church activities.  Here are some of the photos at these events.  Thomas was released as the Group Leader on Sunday.  He is working hard to achieve the goals he set for himself as a missionary, knowing that they are in reach even if he only has 4 more days in Malaysia.  He will go to Singapore on Monday to meet up with the other missionaries who are also returning to the US.  He leaves for San Francisco early Tuesday morning.

During the month of May, he attended a zone meeting in Ipoh and met many good people in Sitiawan.

Zone Meeting in Ipoh

Flats in Sitiawan 

With a family Thomas and his companion are teaching.

With Elder Martin, Thomas' companion at the Provo Missionary Training Center.
[Go to the July 10, 2010 post to see what they looked like 2 years ago.]

Dinner with new friends from the Philippines.

Thomas and others also organized 2 successful church activities. The first event was in early May, when the Chinese Branch members and the Malay Group members got together to have Family Home Evening.  Lots of people attended and had a good time together.

Joint Family Home Evening in Sitiawan

The second was a Gawai party at the church.  Gawai is a big festival for the Ibans from the State of Sarawak on the Island of Borneo.  The celebration includes lots of food and traditional dancing.

Gawai party decorations

Gawai Party at the Sitiawan Church.

Iban dance during Gawai celebration

Poco poco dance

4 missionaries in Sitiawan and a local family.

Return Date Set

Just got word that Thomas will return to the US on Tuesday, June 12, 2012.  He'll be on a Delta flight that goes from Singapore to Tokyo, then on to San Francisco, arriving around 9:30 AM.  We can't wait.

Sitiawan Group

Thomas and his companion, Elder Alexsius from Sabah, are working hard to get a Group going to Malay speaking members. Because there are not too many Malay speaking people in the small city, it is challenging work. However, they are having some success and a good group of people is attending church over the last few weeks.

Sitiawan Group. Elder Alexsius on left.

Teaching Sunday School

Thomas went to Ipoh for a meeting shortly after arriving in Sitiawan.  Ben served in Ipoh in late 2007 to early 2008 so many members in Ipoh still remember him.  Thomas was given royal treatment by the members, who called him "Junior Elder Kwok".

Going to Ipoh for meeting.

With members in Ipoh, many of whom know Ben, Thomas' brother who served in Ipoh 5 years ago. 

Riding tandem bike with Elder Alexsius.

Sister Chris's beautiful cake. The inscription in Malay reads, "Welcome to Ipoh, Junior Elder Kwok".

With Sisters Sarvina and Lydia in Ipoh

With Yee San, who was baptized by Ben.

With Sister Chris, who took care of Ben and all missionaries in Ipoh.

Taking a bike to a church member.

Spaghetti Thomas made.

Ipoh Train Station.

Baseball, Malaysian style.

With members from Ipoh.

Goodbye Mukah, Hello Sitiawan

After working really hard and having quite a bit of success in Mukah, Thomas was transferred to Sitiawan in West Malaysia 2 days ago.  He and his companion, Elder Parker, taught many good people in Mukah and the congregation almost tripled in size.  Including the missionaries and visitors, around 80 people attend Sunday services regularly and the branch is close to fully organized, with Primary (children's group), Young Men and Young Women (youth groups), and Relief Society (women's group) all functioning with local leaders and teachers in place.  Thomas said goodbye to them over the weekend and here are some of the photos he sent home.

Abu's Family

Bara's Family

Betty's Family

Andin's Family

Bro. Empeni and Sis. Long

David and Mary

Relatives of David and Mary

Kamal and Kidang at their baptismal service

Kamal and Kidang

Kinsun's family

With Ibu at the place where Thomas ate lunch regularly

At Empeni's house

Branch President Bossclay's family

Primary children in Mukah

Rantai's family (the first family Thomas taught in Mukah)

Sam's family

Seli and others in the chapel

Seli's family

Alice's family

Magdlines' family

Sister Maliya

Subri and Monica

Sumai and Duah

Takin's family

The Big House

With the youth

Kinsun's family

Kinsun's children

Group of church members saying goodbye to Thomas.

Got up super early the day of departure.

Last turboprop plane ride in Malaysia

Bye-bye Sarawak

Bye-bye Sarawak

Sitiawan is in the Manjung District in the State of Perak in Malaysia, about 50 miles from Ipoh.  It is a coastal town with a population of about 100,000.  Thomas will share an apartment with 3 other missionaries: Elder Alexius (his companion from Sabah) and two from the US who are serving in the Chinese Branch.  Thomas' assignment is to work with the Malay speaking people there.  He will start a congregation there from scratch.  This is a challenging task that he welcomes and will spend the last 2 months of his mission working hard to build up the group.  Go to Thomas' Facebook information page to get his new mailing address.