Gotta be kinda quick this week-
This week was kinda different becuase we had district conference in a place thats about 12 hours from Tawau. So we went there. To Kota Kinabalu. aka KK. We went there a couple days early to have a little adventure time, and we climbed mount Kinabalu, the largest peak in all of southeast asia. I dont think there is a whole lot of mountain in this region of the world, so i im not sure "the biggest peak in all of southeast asia" really means a whole lot. But i had a ton of fun hiking the mountain. I discovered that i am already an old man becuase when i was done with the hike, my knees had pretty much given out, and i could barley walk. So im gonna go see a doctor about that. My knees have been bothering me a lot lately.
That was about all that happened this past week. Just got everyone ready for conference, and helped the church get everything all settled. Helped people get the things they needed to go, and everything. But even though we were only in our area for 3 days this week, there were still miracles....we got 11 new investigators!!!
thats absolutley amazing for this area. Wayyyy crazy. anyway ill tell one cool story.
About a couple of week ago, we contacted this guy names Matius at a gas station. He said that he was willing to learn about the church, and he gave us his cell phone number to contact him. We called him a few days later to set up an appointment. He said that he would be willing to meet at the end of the week (a few weeks ago) but it ended up never happening. So we were kinda bummed about that, and really wanted to meet him. One day last week, we decided to go knock some doors. but we werent exactly sure where. Me and elder odriscoll road to a place where i decided to stop. We locked our bikes up and go knock on the first door that we see. Turns out that she is christian! which is a amazing! anyway, she asked us if we knew Matius. and we told her yes. It was kinda of weird that she asked us about him. But it turns out that she was his wife!!! and she is willing to learn too. And we met his kids. So, even though he could meet that day, the gospel still had a way of finding him one way or another! haha. The very first door we knocked was his house. It was amazing. way awesome. We went on to get 5 more investigators that day! it was a miracle!
Elder Trotter

Well this week was actually pretty good.  We had three people get baptised and the week was pretty fun. This next week we have a conference about 8 hours away, but we get to get on a plane, and its only a 1 hour flight. haha. anyway, the baptisms were great! Myla and Tony got baptised! and they are seriously the most solid people i have ever taught. They already have a goal to go to the temple is september of next year. They already pay tithing even though they only got baptised on saturday. haha. ANyway, they have a very good understanding of the gospel, and definately want to follow all of the commandments. Also, Jenny got baptised this week. Im not sure if ive written much about her. She is the daughter of Marvic, who got baptised two weeks ago. So now We have some completely families that accepted the gospel and gotten baptised. Pretty cool stuff. anyway i got a pretty cool story to tell...
this sunday. We got invited to go to a muslim wedding. So we decided to go. the reception was outdoors. and there is a live band playing. We got some food and everything. The guy in the band thanked "the white people" for coming hahaha. and he treated us like we were the guests of honor or something. and everyone clapped and cheered and stuff. it was great. So the band continued to play some songs. Then a little later, the singer guy thanks us again for coming. hahaha. And he asked us where we were from and everything. and we told him from america. anyway, this is the good part. He asked me if i wanted to come and sing a song! and so i said SURE! hhaha. and so i went up decided to sing a song. But i didnt wanna just sing. I thought i might as well play guitar too! haha. so i asked the guitarist if i could borrow his guitar and he let me. I put it on, and stood in front of the whole wedding crowd, and started to play and sing. hahahahahah. and then, the band picked up on the song i was playing, and played with me!! drums, keyboard, bass, everything! hahaha. And i was singing and playing guitar with a band in front of the entire wedding crowd! and they went nuts. you would think you were at a michael jackson concert! it was awesome! hahaha.
Anyway, this week was pretty fun. Im pretty sure you all could picture me singing like that at a wedding. but thats probably something i will never forget. haha. anyway, until next week-
Elder Trotter

Dear all.
This week went well. I think i have done nothing but missionary work for the past while. But this week we got the chance to go to a training from a general authority. it was pretty cool. We got on a plane and went to miri (thats kinda closer to my old area) and for to meet eith Elder Perkins from the area presidency in the seventy. He had a lot of cool things to say, and a lot of things to help out the mission. Its was pretty cool, and it was a nice break from the normal routine. Also there, i got to see Elder Steadman! Yes, my companion from the MTC. In the MTC we got along ok, but kinda got on each others nerves and stuff. But after the MTC, its llike we both chilled out a lot, and it was super cool to see him.

ALso, we had two baptisms. It was cool. And everythin went smooth. It was cool to see a visible different with Marivic. She actually seems more happy and nmre energetic than she has been since i have met her. Both her and Wesli asked me to baptize them. So thats whats happened this week.
This upcoming week, we have 3 baptisms. Myla, Tony, and Jenny. Myla and Tony are a couple. And some of the most solid people i have ever taught before. They are super excited to get baptized, and they will be a great help to the branch here in Tawau. anyway, thats all for this week

ELder Trotter

Dear all-

Well like last week- not a whole lot has been happeneing this week besides a lot of missionary work. haha

We have some baptisms coming up. 2 this week and 2 next week. I wish i could tell you more about them. These people are way excited to be baptised. I know i say that about all of them but the ones getting baptised next week are the most solid people i have ever taught. Its way awesome. Its a couple, Myla and Tony. And they love the gospel. Its cool becuase they want us to come over everyday to teach them about the Book of Mormon. So we do! we go over to their house everyday, and get members to come with us, and we have a little Book of Mormon study every night at their house. We are starting to get more people to come for it, and some investigators have been coming too. So its been great. But Myla and Tony have an understanding about the gospel like i havent really seen yet. This week, Myla had someone start yelling at her for joining the church, adn the person told her how wrong our church was, but Myla stood up for herself, and told the person that she knows this church is true and that nothing anyone says will change her mind about it. Pretty good for a person who hasnt even been baptised yet! haha. anyway, things have been good, and will continue to get better. All the people learning right now are awesome. And there are honestly too many to talk about them all. But ive been busy, and the work has been great!
Elder Trotter

dear all
Well, this week, there hasnt been a whole lot to write about. There hasnt been a whole lot of cool stories, or funny things that happened. but we've had things work out for us better than ever.

We've been teaching people here like crazy. We have so many good investigators, and they are all progressing very well. We had 8 people at church last week!!! all the other weeks that we've been here, we've only had about 2 or 3. Things feel like they are exploding here, and its really great to watch it all happen. its really humbling.

This week, we had two of our investigators ask us if they could be baptised this saturday even though they have only been to church twice. They tell us to come over to their house every night to teach them. They are so anxious to learn more about the gospel. And the best part: its a family, but only the parents are old enough to get baptised. Im so excited for those kids to grow up with the church in their lives. its wayy awesome.

We recieved 3 referrals at church this week. They are all people that are friends with members. They all want to learn about the gospel. We met one of them. It wasnt just a refferal. It was a whole family. Me and met them and taught them, and they are awesome. They already knew a little about the church, and are excited to read and pray about the book of mormon.

Joan follows us everywhere. Every lesson we teach, Joan comes with us to be able to give her testimony about how the church has blessed her life.

We ran in to two girls on the road that we decided to talk to. Turns out the were "part of the mormons" when they lived in the phillipeans. They moved to malaysia, and never went to church again. Well, both of their families are members. and one of the girls has a brother thats on a mission right now.

We got a referral to a house a little bit ago. turns out we got 6 new investigators from there. 3 already have a date to be baptised. they are all wanting to learn about the gospel.

We went to a guitar shope the other day so my companion could buy a guitar. Yesterday,  We go a house to teach some lessons, and it turns out the guy that works at the guitar store was there. He now wants to learn.

I can even write about all the miracles that have been happening with us in Tawau. Things have been great, and the work is progressing great.
Elder Trotter

Dear all
So this week was pretty eventfull with our first baptism in Tawau!! it went awesome, and everything was great. but at first.....it seemed like the baptism wasnt going to happen and that we were going to have delay it a week.
So me and Elder Odriscoll went to the church to fill up the font (she ended up not wanting to get baptised in the ocean) . We got there about 4 hours early because we didnt know how long the font would take. So we get to the church at about noon becuase the baptism was going to start at 4. But we go in the church, and none of the lights work. none of the air conditioners turn on. Nothing. Just dead. Then this malaysian guy comes up to us and tells us that the electricty got cut because no one paid the bill! haha. well, we tried to fill up the font cuz we figured that the water would still work. Nope. None of the water worked either. So.... we got the senior couple out to the church, and they went and paid the electricty bill. But by the time it got turned on it was already 2:30. only and hour and half before the baptism. Not enough time to fill up the font. Or so we thought. Usually fonts take at least 3 hours to fill up. I dont know how, but that font was done in one hour. And its not a small font.  The font was done a half hour before the baptism even started, and everything went great!

Also this week, we were going out to visit a recent convert, and as we were walking, we noticed some branches on a tree moving. we looked, and there was a monkey! haha. so we stopped and took pictures of this little monkey just hanging out right above us. it was pretty cool. So ill send some pictures of that.
On monday we decided to go cook some breakfast for Joan, and the people that live in her house. (theres like 7 families in one house) and so we decided that french toast would be easy and fun. But they have never had french toast here before. So we cooked, and everyone was blown away by how good french toast. it was pretty funny. I dont think they had ever had syrup before. It was almost too sweet for them to eat. it was pretty funny. The funny part was seeing the faces of the people that would walk in to the kitchen, and see to big white guys cooking. haha. it was priceless. haha. good stuff. anyway....things are pretty good in tawau.
the work is going forward, and we are finding new families to teach. And thats what we need. As of last week, Tawau is the number one district in the zone!! haha. and we've only been here a month and a couple weeks. anyway, we've been working hard, and i feel like ive never been so tired in my whole life. ahhhh. hahah. anyway, until next week
Elder Trotter

Oh the Hot Jungle

Dear all-
Sorry i didnt write last week. ANd i dont have a lot of time this week either. This week was a blast! i had a ton of fun and we worked really hard. We had the most amount of lessons that have been taught in a single week since sometine in 2010. So we broke last years record for lessons taught with a member present! it was cool! we got a bunch  more people on to be baptised. Im super excited for how htings have been going in the area.  Our work has definately been paying off. In our zone we have a total of 21 people on date to be baptized. 11 of them are from mine and Elder Odriscolls area. hahah. more than half. so. things have been put in our way. And i feel very honored to know that God has seen us fit to use us as an instrument in his hands. Its really great.
This saturday we are going to have our first baptism in Tawau. I am way excited. Her name is Joan, and i think she is the most solid investigator that i have ever taught so far. Shes got faith and a testimony like you wouldnt believe. She goes with us every where to teach lessons. And she teaches the gospel principles like someone who has been in the church for years. So i am super excited for her baptism. haha. and its even better...she wasnts to be baptized in the OCEAN!!!!! hahaha i am soooo excited. I have wanted to baptize someone in the ocean since before my mission even started. haha. It just seems wayyy cool.
So this week, we decided to go tracting out by one of our members houses. But it wasnt just any tracting. It was jungle tracting. We were told there was a little village of jungle people not too far from our members house. So we decided to go find the village. But before we went out, we went and bought a machete. Because there is crazy things in the jungle. So we went out. But the thing is, we didnt know where to find the village. We needed someone to take us there. But the dad of that member family wasnt home. So the next best thing was his oldest son. hahaha. but hes only 10 years old!!!! hahaha. and his 8 year old little sister. So here me and my companion are, being lead through the jungle to a little village by a little 10 year old boy and his little sister. haha. But we made it to the village and taught 2 families there. It was pretty a pretty cool experience!
Anyway, thats about all. I wish i had time to write more, but i got to go!
Until next week
Elder Trotter

So here are the pictures for the week.
                                               

 The picture with my pants rolled up- that day was just wayyy to hot to wear pants. so i had to roll them up! haha

 The picture with the little kids- those were the ones that lead us through the jungle! our jungle guides!

 Me in tribal wear- I went to a little culture festival thing! it was cool

 wong fook yu. hahaha. im immature and thougt that was funny

 me and Joan and rosbie. Rosbie is the one on the left. and Joan is the one closest to me