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.