Friday, October 31, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
The journey home...
U
With President and Sister Donald
Thursday, August 14, 2014
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.....
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
P-day movies and pizza
Thursday, July 31, 2014
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....
The airport in Bali
Walking to the beach
Sister Luchereini, Sister Donald, Sister Anderson
Beautiful Bali
View from our balcony
Can't believe our mission is coming to an end...
Sunday, July 20, 2014
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.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Our last Zone Conference
Sister missionaries in our zone
An Indonesian hoarder...
We have an elderly couple in the Timur Branch who live in a tiny (5x10) room, rent free in exchange for sweeping the walks. The room is packed from floor to ceiling with rotting scraps of wood, rotting mats and foam, rocks, old clothes, and junk collected from the garbage. Both husband and wife are tiny (under 5 feet tall) and skinny. They sleep on the garbage in a cramped position. Last week this sister was sick and had to go to the hospital....at that point her husband agreed that the missionaries could come and remove the garbage from their home. The branch donated a new bed frame and mattress to provided some comfort.
Neighborhood children holding 4 inch cockroach by antennae...it was one of the many that came out with the garbage!
When we arrived on Friday afternoon to start our work this brother had a change of heart....said he was shy and didn't want us to remove anything. He had actually threatened Brother Hadi the previous day that he would stab him with a knife if he tried to remove the garbage. Long story short...we were able to remove a tiny portion of the things in the house. The stench was nauseating....cockroaches four inches long came out with each item removed from the house. Everything was rotting from the rain that comes through the roof. We got out as much as we could! We tried to get the bed in once the brother refused to let us remove anything else but it still wouldn't fit. He told us he would finish once we left. His wife appeared to plead with him to let us continue but no success! So sad for her.... I have never seen such filth and squalor in my life. No water, no window, no floor other than dirt....
View of the room
Elder trying to convince him to let us continue
About 40-50 neighbors gathered to watch the bulehs....dad tried a little crowd control by visiting with them
The new bed frame that still wouldn't fit in by the time we left
The wife is the tiny face you can see near Elder Lie's shoulder....she watched the proceedings from behind this gate
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Funeral
Sister Sukesi's father passed away Monday evening. He was pedaling his becak and slumped forward dead. He was buried Tuesday morning at 10 am in a Christain cemetery in Surabaya. Tonight is the memorial service at their home....
The Family...Sister Sukesi's third from left
Branch Priesthood holders in attendance
Branch sisters in attendance
One view of the cemetery
Friday, July 11, 2014
Sweet...
Had the chance to serve a branch member along with the Timur elders. I'd forgotten how therapeutic weeding is! We also painted and some built a new slatted half-door (?)
Elders Heiner and Anderson discussing how to build the door
Elder Wills and Marsudi using machetes to cut down plants
Elder Lie
Peter
Sister Yeni fed us lunch...yummy noodles, chicken, salted fish, and corn soup
Elder Wills, Sister Yeni
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Elections!
Next week the people of Indonesia will vote for a new president....was surprised to learn how they mark the ballot!
Friday, July 4, 2014
Batu
Road in Batu
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