Timur Branch Outing

Celebrating Mohammad's Birthday...

Branch outing at a fishing "resort"??

Fish and rice for lunch...it was delicious :)

From L:  Brother Hadi, Sister Sukemi, Sister Win, Sister Ani, Sister Ningsih, Sister Anita

Another view

Sister Novi and her son and mother, Sister Okkey and her daughter, Brother Arti 

Chatting with some of the sisters and Deon

Young missionaries and members

Sister Missionaries

We have been so excited since President Donald asked us about six weeks ago to find an apartment for sister missionaries!  We only have elders serving in Surabaya...which happens to be the #1 District You Do NOT Want To Be Transferred To in the entire mission!!  We love our elders but I have quietly yearned to have sister missionaries too...they just add another dimension to the work.  It was quite a process trying to find just the right apartment in just the right price range in just the right neighborhood with just the right amount of security that is just right for four sisters!  Mission Accomplished!  The apartment was located, upgraded (within reason), furnished, and just waiting for the sisters to arrive!  Our first two sisters arrived yesterday...the other companionship will arrive next week when the new sister receives her kitas.  SO excited to have them here!!

Sister Manullang and Sister Edwards in their living room

On the front porch

Bought their bikes after DDM today

The Museum

Exploring!

We just spent three wonderful days with two other senior couples...Elder and Sister Williams from Malang and Elder and Sister Lisk who are the office couple in Jakarta.  We took the train to Malang Friday morning, were met by the Williams', picked up Lisks at the airport then off to the beach!  Spent Saturday in Bantu hiking to a waterfall and then visiting an amazing museum!  After church on Sunday we caught the train back to Surabaya.  We had such a great time!!

Our first selfie-on the train to Malang

A small Hindu temple located off the shore of the beach at Balekambang

Andersons, Williams, Lisks

Waterfall in Batu

Indonesians often ask to have their photo taken with bules...we are quite the novelty

The children in Indonesia are beautiful!!

Along the path to the waterfall

Traditional Javanese Wedding Reception

OWe attended the wedding reception of a cute young couple...Sister Renny was just baptized and Brother Ferry is a returned missionary.  They are both so warm and friendly and outgoing...you just feel good being around them!

A Javanese dancer 'leads' the couple, followed by their families, down the red carpet to the stage for the receiving line

The bride and groom leading the family processional

The grooms aunt, mother, brother and uncle...most in traditional Javanese costumes from Solo

The receiving line...photos are taken with each guest/ guest family

From the photo booth....us with our 'Surabaya Sons'

The Inspector

Each month we are supposed to inspect the elders' apartments to ensure that they are safe, reasonably clean, somewhat organized and that the elders' needs are being met.  Elder Anderson sits back and lets me inspect, assisting with repairs when necessary, but not saying much.  

This month I was so happy that the Timur elders apartment looked so good...clean windows, clean kitchen, defrosted refrigerator, organized desks and work areas....and I really complimented them on their diligence!  They kept grinning at me, but I thought it was due to the compliments.  As I left to get their treats from the car, Elder Rogers asked me how I liked their cockroach on the wall.  There in all its glory was a huge dead cockroach!  The elders then proceeded to tell me it has been there for four months...they were waiting for me to notice but finally decided to point it out :). I guess you can kill them dead on the spot with toothpaste!  

So much for my inspecting skills....

Elders Marsudi, Wills, Norris, and Rogers with 'friend' (above and to the left of the map corner)