Nobody told me....

Transfers come around every three or four months...you'd think an old senior couple would get used to them!  But I wasn't  prepared for how hard it is to see these elders 'move on'.  You grow to love them as you watch them struggle and grow and mature...you are filled with righteous pride as you listen to them teach with the spirit and bear powerful testimony!  You learn from them and with them, provide counsel and comfort, and enjoy the time spent together!  We are excited for their new adventures but saddened that we may never have the chance to see some of them again!   But there is somemercy associated   with transfers...the new elders arrive and you fall in love all over again!

Elders Anderson, Johnson, Barlow and Rogers (Elder Barlow is leaving this transfer)

Elders Gil, Suryono, Hall, Lopis and Marsudi (Elders Suryono, Hall and Lopis are being transferred)

Our District 'Farewell luncheon' at McDonalds hosted by the Andersons

Feeling Sentimental

I've had a song going through my head today...just keep hearing it over and over!  Don't know when I first heard it but I used to sing it to my children when they were little.  Can't remember all of the words but it starts like this...

Do you know who you are little child of mine?

So precious and dear to me...

Do you know you're a part of a great design

That's vast as eternity.

Can you think for a moment how much depends

On your holding the iron rod?

Your life is forever...worlds without end

Do you know you're a child of God?

Miss those babies but love who they've become!  So grateful for the love and support of family!!

A Typical Day

Three visits with Elders Lopis and Gil

Left at 10am and was home by 8pm...with no down time!

Did take an hour to eat lunch/dinner at Pizza Hut....the rest of the time spent in driving or visiting...

First stop in Sidoarjo...Pak Hilarius and his family

He has already read to Alma 26 and is gaining a testimony of the gospel

Their oldest daughter has CP...mom asked us to pray for a miracle

Sister Mamik, Sister Nanik, Brother Tejo

Wow!  They have been very offended by members and we heard twenty four years worth of frustration!

They now attend another church but want us to stop by and visit....I think they needed to get it out!  Still have strong testimonies and defend the gospel....just don't  like the members!  

Ibu Rosey...a Christian midwife who sought out the missionaries

Missionary Interview

President Donald was coming to Surabaya on Friday to interview a perspective missionary when all flights were cancelled due to the volcano eruption. He asked Elder Anderson to facilitate a Skype interview, which took place Monday morning.  Brother Angga was so nervous when he arrived for the interview...said he had hardly slept all night!  He had on a brand new white shirt and tie, which is a great expense for the Indonesian people. His mother Sister Sumarlik sent over some fried bananas for us to thank us for facilitating the interview.  Dad has some new white shirts that he is hoping will fit Brother Annga....would love to help in some way and we are asked not to help with money!

Brother Angga, Elder Anderson

Valentines Party

YThe Timur Branch had a Valentines Party (aka talent show) on the 15th.  We couldn't believe how many of the members performed....and they really get into it!  We even danced during one couple's duet :)

Young girls performing a dance routine...lots of sass!

Some of the priesthood brethren singing "I Want to Break Free"

When they announced their song I thought they said "I Want to Break Wind" 😳...and they said it two or three times!! I could hardly contain the giggles!!

I asked one of our Australian elders if he thought they knew what 'breaking wind' means and if it meant the same thing in Indonesian as it does in English...he started laughing and told me what they actually said!  

Some of the sister rockin' the moves!

Sister Christin and Brother Hendi were our MCs...they are the cutest couple!!  So talented and fun!!

Keluarga malam

Sister Ira, Brother Darius and their daughter Joyce came for dinner and FHE Monday night.  Brother Darius is not a member but is very supportive of his family.  We made Neumans Chicken served over rice, garlic bread, sliced watermelon, and blonde brownies and ice cream for dessert.  So far the Indonesians we have invited to dinner have NOT liked the food I have made!!

Christian Cemetery

Stopped by a Christian cemetery during our travels last week...

All of the graves have jugs next to them...we were told they are for watering the plants (???)

These two little boys were gathering flowers that fall from the trees in the cemetery.  They get paid according to the weight of their gatherings.

.

Lunch at Sister Elly's

Sister Elly invited the Barat missionaries to lunch this week....delicious fried noodles, chicken, rice and soup!  The food was so good but the company was even better!  She invited several branch members and her parents to join us....so fun to get to visit with people outside of Sunday meetings!

The Elders

President Siswoyo (counselor in District Presidency) and Elder Anderson

Sister Catur and her adorable little boys

Sisters Tanti, Catur, Anderson, Soewardi, Irene, Elly, Ana, Emmy

I love these women...they truly have become my sisters!

Monkey Band

On Saturday we drove out to Gresik to visit a family...takes about an hour to dive there.  While we were in their home two young men with their drum and performing monkey came down the street and stopped for a performance! Of course we had to come out and watch...families living in the the kompon were all out to watch.  The monkey is on a leash and rides a scooter or 'motorcycle' up and own the street with one man loosening then pulling on the leash.  The other young man squats at the side of the street beating a drum and something else that sounds like something between a cymbal and a horn.  At the end of the performance the monkey carries a bucket around to collect money fom the observers!  Quite entertaining :)

Visiting Sister Endang's  family in Gresik

The monkey and his 'motorcycle'

Drum player on the left...monkey at far end of the street

Can't really see it but at different iMessage the monkey puts on some pretty grotesque masks!!

Love Notes

Chinese New Year

Brother and Sister Bench invited us to her mothers home for a traditional Chinese New Years celebration.  From 1966-2000 the Chinese were forbidden to celebrate the New Year in Indonesia.  Their schools were shut down and many were forced to change their names in order to avoid persecution.  All of this in spite of the fact that most had been born in Indonesia....their parents had immigrated to this country.

Sister Bench's father and his first wife.  This shrine was the first thing you saw as you entered the home.  As family arrived they each took three sticks of incense, lit them from the candles, stood in front of the shrine and offered prayers, bowed three times and placed the incense in the silver container.

Family members in traditional Chinese clothing 

A gift brought to the home...everything is made from chocolate (the oranges, the bowl, the plate, the chopsticks, the sign)

Our apartment lobby decorated for Chinese New Year...it's the year of the horse

Traditional Market

On the day of celebration for Chinese New Year Sister Bench took Elder and I to a traditional market...the largest one in Surabaya.  We do not shop at traditional markets because the prices skyrocket when they see a white person!  The market was like a maze...walking down cobblestone streets, weaving in every direction, going on for maybe a mile or so!  We would have been completely lost without a guide!!  One woman reached out and grabbed my arm while speaking Indonesian...Sister Bench said something firmly to her and she finally let go!  Some called out to us, but most simply stared!   We try to be friendly and smile and say 'halo' (hello) to each person we see...and most respond in the same way :)

Couple selling scallions

Baskets full of chickens....they grab a chicken, throw it in a pot of boiling water (pot on right), pull it out of that pot and toss it into another one ( pot on left) where the feathers come off.  Then they pull it out and throw it onto the table where the insides are removed.  A man was sitting on the ground with a bucket of filthy water cleaning the intestines as they came out of the chickens (they sell those separately).  Restaurants, groceries and individuals then come and make their purchases!

Baskets of dried fish and fish parts...you can imagine that the olfactory organs are on overload :)

Women preparing scallions...note the chicken walking through....they are all around!

The fresh fish market...they were waiting for the trucks to arrive with the days catches

Photos do absolutely nothing to actually describe the experience....wish you could be here and go with us!!