Full Circle

The journey home...

U

With President and Sister Donald

Driving through Jakarta to the airport

Roof at gate D5 at Jakarta airport

Hong Kong Airport

View from gate 65 Hong Kong airport

The Teacher

We went to say goodbye to Sister Martoyo yesterday.  Theirs is one of the first families we met when arriving in Surabaya and they made quite an impression!  Living in the most humble conditions that I had ever experienced, the love, warmth and goodness of this family permeated the environment.  Brother Siput has returned from his mission and is a great strength to his family and the branch...Bendi is currently serving in Jogjakarta .  Maria is an intelligent, beautiful and faithful young woman.

Last week Sister Martoyo's stepson, his wife and new baby came to visit.  While there, the wife died suddenly.  As is custom, the body is buried the same day and now the stepson has gone to another island and Sister Martoyo is caring for their two month old daughter.  With nothing but love and kindness this good sister carries a heavy responsibility to care for and provide for her family.  I have such love, respect and gratitude for her!  She has taught me much about life.....

P-day movies and pizza

E Wintolo, E Green, S Hasibuan, S Ah Wong, E Simanungkalit

S Edwards

E Marsudi, one of our Zone Leaders, has nearly completed his mission and heads home to Solo one week before we leave.  We love his enthusiasm and strong testimony of the gospel!

Counting the weeks on an Indonesian calendar....

The beginning of the end...

President Donald invited us to join them and the Lucherinis (Humanitarian Senior Couple) in Bali for six days for a little R & R and to assist with a wheelchair project.  I was a little surprised when Elder Anderson accepted the invitation.  Peter had asked for those days off to celebrate Ramadan with his family so we would have been housebound for the week!  At the last minute the wheelchair project was cancelled but we had a fantastic six days of R & R!

Sunday in Bali....

Sister Luchereini, Sister Donald, Sister Anderson

The airport in Bali

Walking to the beach

Beautiful Bali

View from our balcony

Can't believe our mission is coming to an end...

Gresik

Gresik is a village about an hours +  drive from Surabaya...more rural, out in the country, architecture different than what we typically see in Surabaya.  I love the homes in Gresik...striking colors, beautiful wood doors and window frames, often stained glass, tiled porches.  Snapped these photos when returning from home teaching yesterday....

These homes would be middle to upper-middle class homes.  Note the shoes outside some doors (you always remove your shoes before entering a home) and ramps at the front of each house to drive the motorcycle up onto the porch.