Major Changes

Six of our eight elders were transferred last week.  As the elders would say, our area was 'whitewashed'!  We hosted a farewell lunch at McDonalds and then shed a few tears as the elders left our apartment (they had come over to print their airline tickets.). Most of them we will likely never see again during our mission...they are seldom if ever assigned to an area once they have served there.  Three of our new elders are fresh from the MTC ... Always fun to observe their acclimation to a new culture 😊

Lunch at McD's

From our balcony...

Taking Elder Hasibuan to the train station

DDM with new elders

FHE

Sister Yeni invited all of the missionaries and a few of the branch members to her home for FHE last week.  Afterwards she served us a delicious dinner!

Gathered at the church to head to Sister Yeni's ...an hour and a half drive

Yummy dinner!

Baptism!

 Within the past two weeks we have had two -yes, TWO - baptisms in Surabaya!  While this may not seem phenomenal, it actually is!!  These are the first two baptisms within the past nine months!  To our understanding Indonesia is the lowest baptizing mission in the church!  Yet our missionaries are helping to lay the foundation for future generations of church members to blossom and grow in this beautiful country!  

Peter was baptized by President Donald (our mission president) while we were in Jakarta.  He was confirmed yesterday by Elder Anderson.  (Don't yet have a photo of Lidya, the other new member...will add when I get one)

Elder Kyle, Elder Mendrofa, Peter, Elder and Sister Anderson

Visas...and Singapore

We were notified that we were being sent with two young missionaries to Singapore to renew our visas.  This has never happened before n the Indonesian mission...typically the missionaries just need to go to Jakarta for a few days to complete their paperwork!  So off we went on an uncharted adventure...and I am happy to report that all went well and we returned safely with a year-long visa rather than six month!  We spent four days in Singapore and then six days in Jakarta before returning to Surabaya.  In addition to spending a time on two different days at the embassy renewing our visas (bureaucracy exists everywhere) and participating in the Singapore Mission Zone Conference, we managed to navigate the MRT (subway system) and do some sightseeing while in Singapore!  In Jakarta we met two new senior couples, got better acquainted with President and Sister Donald, renewed acquaintance with two senior couples, got to see three elders who had previously served in our zone, and had an unbelievable amount of study time :)

My Singapore companion Sister Allred

Dads Singapore companion Elder Norris

Marina by the Bay

The Royal Hotel...our home for four days

Laser show over the harbor

Exploring the city at night

Look at Elder Anderson's expression....pure joy!

Singapore airport...reflexology machine programmed to massage feet and legs

Merlion...the symbol of Singapore 

Garden Sands...an amazing sculpture appears to float in the air...it's huge!

Riding the subway with Sister Jensen

Walkway at MARINA BY THE BAY...largest Ferris wheel in the world in background

Indonesia's Independence Day

Today is Independence Day in Indonesia!

We attended the Barat Branch celebration....it was such a great morning!

We arrived at 8am and began cleaning the kitchen in the church.  At nine the RS activity began....a cooking demonstration with tofu!  I think I can make these foods on my own now...but we shall see!  After we cooked we ate the fruits of our labors then finished cleaning the kitchen.  The Primary celebrated its birthday at the same time and brought in delicious lemon cake for all the RS.  I just love these RS sisters!!  They always include me and in spite of our language differences their gestures and smiles communicate so much!  

Mashing the tofu....

The finished products!  Aren't these the cutest RS sisters??

Reflections

While in Singapore to renew our visas we had the opportunity to participate in Zone Conference with the Malaysian missionaries.  It was an exciting time for them because the Book of Mormon has just been translated into Malay....all of the missionaries were given copies to take back to their cities.  Their enthusiasm and excitement was evident as they talked about the people they love being able to read the Book of Mormon in their own language.  The conference was inspiring, with beautiful music from a missionary choir, testimonies shared, and teachings on the Doctrine of Christ.

Yesterday in the mission home we learned that one of the young elders serving in Malaysia had been hit by a car while riding his bike home from an appointment and was killed.  My heart aches for that young mans family, his companion, his mission president, and for all those who knew and loved him!

I have since reflected on the uncertainties of life...how quickly our circumstances can change...and how grateful I am for the plan of salvation and eternal families!

Zone Conference with the missionaries from Singapore and Malaysia....excited about the new Malay Book of Mormon

Rekan Saya

I love my companion so much!  He is so sincere and honorable in his prayers and in his desires to serve The Lord!  What a blessing to serve with him!!

Arriving for DDM