THE HIKE

If the lay of the land isn't right for terracing - then make it so!

The finished product - and his son.

It's his job!

The channels and some of the terracing are made from this stone. It is harvested right where you see it lying - then find these large boulders, dig them out of the ground and break them up into usable bricks.

Pressure reduction tank. Some are cement, most are polyethylene tanks. There are 12.

You can see an overflow pipe (circular) and the entry for the 5" pipe to the villages is that light greenline by the large rock in the middle of the photo.

The source.

These two fellows were finishing the channel below. They were taking a lunch break.

Nearing the top.

A tap for a "field" off of the main line to one of the villages.

This guy carried it down the mountain - he's about 5'4"!

I tried to just hold it!

Hauling firewood and fodder for their cattle ... you wouldn't believe where they harvested it and the distance they had to carry it. Each bundle of (2/load) of elephant grass weighed about 30 kg.

Tobacco

Farm "Fields"

Banana flower.

Young bananas and onions.

Early in the 1000 meter climb/hike.

Jack Fruit. Used as a vegetable when it is small, a fruit when it is larger and sweeter.

Spider

Scenes from the Hike to one of the water sources.

Photos From Week 7 - Art of Batik

The Art of Batik (as it was originally done)

The design is drawn with bees wax, dyed, the wax is removed, the pattern added and redyed until it is completed - about 3 months.

Cloth ready for the first dyeing.

Like Father Like Son!

What can I say?

Week 6 from Sister Greenway

Amazing! Six weeks in... We feel so blessed to be here. I can imagine that you might tire of hearing how lovely the people are in Indonesia, but we are reminded daily of their kindness, friendliness, and willingness to learn. However, by being so delightful they teach us constantly on being about the Saviors business. We began the week by teaching English with the Grovers at UNESRI. At this Univ. we never know which classes we will teach, and this week they wanted to have Grovers in one classroom and Elder Greenway and I in another. So, of course, that's exactly what we did. They were doing presentations in our class about doing presentations. One was on the how to's of a presentation, the other was on visual aids. They were done on power point, and were well researched. However, because of the shyness of the culture, they about hide behind their notes, and are very stiff and timid. So after we had seen both presentations and after complimenting them on all of their hard work, Dad began by teaching them to speak out in their "Chest Voices"! It was so fun to watch them trying to use booming voices. Then we talked about body language, moving closer to the people you are speaking to, looking them in the eye, and smiling! It was so much fun. We really laughed and had a great time. Then we had pictures (we will expect to be treated like stars when we get home) and went on our way. What a day. Something interesting. There classes have no real schedule. School begins at 7 a.m. and they drift from class to class. Ours was to start at 8 a.m. and began around 8:30, We ended somewhere around 9:40 and they were all talking in a group when we left. Oh! And their presentations were all in English of course. They are bright young men and young women. Some are Muslim,, some are Christain, some Hindu etc. And they are all friends. What a great lesson.

About that time the week became hazy for me. I caught some kind of crud, ran a fever, ran to the bathroom, ran a good sweat, and was in bed until Sat. Your Dad, I'm sure was grateful to go to the YSA movie night on Thurs. and then Missionary District meeting on Friday. I will let him tell you about those. I was grateful for the Blessing he gave me. I was in a whole lot of hurt Wed. and still I was able to sleep and have some peace. Great blessings come in small packages!

Today, Sunday, I used great faith and attended church. I had been asked to play for the Benjasari branch primary program practice, (say that 3 times fast) and also to stay after church a practice with the Jebres branch YW for a program they have scheduled in Nov. They are singing 3 songs. Yes! I said 3 songs, and they scheduled a Sat. afternoon practice this week to become more confident! If anything could cure the plague it would be singing with the Primary Children, and the YW. Of course it was delightful. Elder Greenway and I also met with District Pres. Agus and his 2nd Counselor. We have the go ahead to begin the Perpetual Education Fund Program in Central Java! Can you imagine....these young people are exactly who Pres. Hinckley had in mind as he prayed for guidance concerning the poverty of these nations. Education is the tool, but having a righteous, loving, latter-day Prophet praying for you was the first blessing in the lives of these young people. The program is an amazing answer to prayer. Dad and I feel such joy to be part of bringing it it central Java. Jakarta is the only part of Indonesia that has seen the Program in action. We will be able to watch it grow first here, then Surabaya, then someday Bali, then on and on.
This week we will be part of a Mission wide Senior Missionary Conference here in Solo. We will hold meetings, and be part of the dedication of the newly completed Humanitarian Water Project about 2 hrs. away. We are even hiking to the project. I have some fruit to prepare, and Dad is doing a 15 min. PEF presentation to the other Seniors.

Before I close, there is one more thing I would like to talk about. Bro and Sis. Groberg have found a tremendous need in the mission. Dad and I have told you about how dim the rooms are, and you have to purchase extra lamps to be able to see. Reading is extremely difficult if you can not afford a lamp, and sometimes even with a lamp. The need is over the counter reading glasses. The missionaries are finding many, especially older members and investigators, who cannot read their scriptures because they cannot see. However, shipping things here is never less than $35 a box weighing less than 4 lbs. If you would like to help we are concerned about the cost of shipping plus the cost of the glasses. Maybe families could work together to send a box full of glasses. Think on it, work together, and let us know if you desire to help. We can let you know where to send the glasses. The elders are buying them themselves and giving them to those who are in the most need. We would love to help them. Dad and I will get a box together, but they are difficult to find en masse here.

We feel our lives have been so blessed. We both were born of goodly parents who loved the Lord and taught their children to have faith. We have dearly loved families and friends who have richly blessed our lives with their talents and kindness. We have children who are fun and faithful, kind and crazy, and devotedly dedicated to serving the Lord. We have much to be grateful for and to share. We have found that these people have very little in worldly goods, but they are happy, and caring. I am positive that they are happy because they look to serve others even when they have so little. It is a good lesson. I remember years ago when serving in the Stake YW, we would advise Ward YW leaders who were having difficulties with their girls loving one another to have them do tons of service. Nothing helps us to forget ourselves and be happy, like service. It is a glorious remedy for sadness, depression, and discouragement. Even Pres. Hinckley's father said to "forget yourself, and get to work", and he was right. I can see it in this joyous people. Thank you for your support in this glorious blessing in our lives. We love you all so much, we love to hear from you, and we pray for you in your times of need.

Saya tahu bahwa Bapa Surgawi mengasihi kita semua. Dia anak-anak di Amereka dan Dia anak-anak di Indonesia. Satu di satu di satu....
(I know Father in Heaven loves us all, His children in America and His children in Indonesia. One by one by one...

Week 6 from Elder Greenway's perspective

Well, the photos I sent showed part of the English class that we taught. Again, I don't know if we mentioned, but anytime you do anything with the Indonesians - out come the cameras and camera phones for the requisite pictures. One thing that is somewhat pervasive throughout the culture is, as Sister Greenway mentioned and shyness or humility. It comes across as (and I don't know another way to put it but) somewhat of an inferiority complex toward bula's (boolays). An English student will feel that they learned more in class today because they were taught by Americans. Even the teacher was visibly pleased by our positive comments about her teaching and her command of English. They really have no reason to feel as they seem to feel because we have seen their accomplishments and their drive.
The movie night was fun. The Grovers have been getting the YSA together just to socialize. They have shown a Hallmark series - the name of which escapes me - but the movie is show in English with English sub-titles to help them with - yes - their English. As we have mentioned, a command of English is a real pluss in the job market. And it is really needed. We have delt with some "English speakers" at the bank and the airport, and they leave a lot to be desired. Most of the members that we deal with have excellant English from missions and contact with the missionaries - like us. As an example, we have four members who have volunteered to help us - Rico, Sonia, Aster, and Amtok. They just come right over to where we are sitting and offer to translate, Amtok even went to the podium with me when I was asked to bear my testimony. Then during SS another brother asked if I wanted a translator.
As S Greenway noted, I also went to our weekly District Meeting. Still a bit confusing because its all in Indonesian. We got six new elders into Solo and I sent their photos yesterday. (If you didn't get them, let me know.) We now have fifteen missionaries her in Solo including the senior missionaries. Four elder pairs, three sisters, the Grovers and the Greenways. Too bad the Grovers are going home the end of November. However, we moght be getting another couple from Tasmania who have been in Indonesia before - however, the last word we had was they hadn't been called, yet. We may find out mere this week at the Seniors Conf.
This will be a busy week beginning with Zone Conference, followed by the Senior Conference followed by Stake Conference or District Conference I'm not sure because we heard it announced in church today and its the first the Grovers had heard of it. We'll let you know next week.
I'll end with some photos of the nineteen native missionaries that just returned from the MTC in Manilla. Because of regulations here in Indonesia, young men and woment have about 21/2 years from HS grad. to their entering university. If they wait too long they loose the opportunity for scholarships - so as soon as a young man graduates from HS at 18 he is called onto his mission. He might even go straight into the field without the MTC - because Indonesia has to send it own trainer along with the missionaries to the Manilla MTC so they have to "save up missionaries" and then send them as a group when the trainer is also available. Therefore some of these missionaries have already been serving - had to be pulled from their area to go to the MTC. These pictures were taken just before they went to Manilla. SOme of the "new" missionaries in Solo were in that group having returned from thier three weeks at the MTC. I also included a picture of President Groberg who was a missionary here in 1972.







Selamat malam - Saya tahu Ingil betul. Saya berterimakasih bagi berkat-berkat saya. Saya berterimakasih nabi yang hidup dan Tidak Mormon ada betul.
E Greenway

Awesome Experience!!

Yesterday, Gina and I had the awesome privilege to go to our ward building and hear, in person, Sister Beck! The General Relief Society President. It was so neat. It was standing room only! Our ward building is set up a lot like Lewisberry and Lebanon's buildings. The gym runs the length of the building. The pew's: FULL. The rows of chair in the gym: Full! Gina and I ended up sitting on the stage. I was in a primary chair and Gina was in a padded chair she found outside the bishop's office. Mom, I gave my padded chair to the older sister missionary that was there. She also served an employment mission but hers was in a Spanish speaking country. The brethren ended up turning people away at the doors and sending them to a nearby ward building. Sister Beck was so wonderful. She had given two other firesides on Saturday so the poor woman couldn't even talk. She was hoarse! But, she still spoke with the power of the spirit!! She had some women stand up and ask her questions. As they asked she wrote them down. Then she said that she may not specifically hit on every question but she promised if we were open to the Holy Ghost that we would all receive answers to our own questions.

I don't know if Mom got the new book that the Relief Society sent out, but I'm sure all of the rest of the women in our family have. She spoke on the power of the book and why they had chosen to send it out. Sister Beck pushed the "on" button at the press on April 6th. By January 2012 she says 99.7% of all the women in the WORLD WIDE Relief Society will have this book. That's 99.7% of the church's women all with the same purpose.

She also spoke on Visiting Teaching and how it wasn't just a lesson. She spoke of how Visiting Teaching is about knowing the status of all the sisters of the ward. We should know if our sisters are sick, tired, stressed, broken down, or just need another woman around. She told us,on average, a mother works 2 1/2 shifts. Meaning 1,2, and 3rd working shifts. She told us that if we allow our physical bodies to become worn down that our spirit won't be able to buoy us up. I have a lot of scriptures to read that Sister Beck referenced. She also gave us an interesting challenge. She told us to read the Doctrine and Covenants from the beginning and put a "T" next to any verse that speaks of the temple or temple ordinances. One really neat thing that was quoted was that "If you read The Scriptures to your children every day, you won't lose a single one." Marion G. Romney. Even though Gina and I were in the way back and couldn't really physically see Sister Beck, we were taught a lot.

Photos from Dad

Cecuk (Chechuck) - Winston

Dining Room, Washroom, Kitchen, Study Room, Language Training, Storage ...

Cloths dryer

Well of fresh (clean) water, and  BR #2 has twin bed with a trundle bed underneath,  and computer desk.

Our Bedroom

Week 5

Hello Dear Family and Friends,

This was our first official week as missionaries in the field and it was great! The Grovers let us tag along to their assignments which we will take up when they leave in a month. Monday was spent getting our internet modem, looking for a sewing machine, etc. We did get the modem, but alas we are still looking for a very simple machine. We found a number of Singer Treadle machines (seriously!) but I think I'll hold out.

But Tuesday we were at U.N.E.S.R.I., one of the local universities, where we helped the Grovers teach english to a group of freshman. They were great. We had them ask questions to guess our professions. They are a bit shy, so they asked things like "What's your favorite food" "Do you like Indonesian food?" etc. I finally cheated and told them what to ask Elder Greenway or we still would be there. But then the Grovers had them divide into groups and they studied tongue twisters. It was so fun. The Indonesians do not use the "th" dipthong, nor do they use the letter "f", so many of the twisters contained those letters. Their "e" has many voices...long a, short i, but never e, i is long e. A is ah, i is long e, o is long o, and u is long ooo. So they have to also work on their vowels. We played a game where they rolled dice which numbers corresponded with the number assigned to the twister. Then each group had to stand and recite the twister. Number 5 was Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers. We all cheered and when one group did especially well I cheered, "Wadu!" (which is Wow!) They all laugh so hard. What ablsolute joy this was. But the best part was after when they want to have a picture with us. Seriously, this could go to your head. It's like being a movie star! Sis. Grover and I really stood there for a least 15 minutes while we had our picture taken with different members of the class. They do this with all American missionaries. The Elders have to be very careful because they have sent pictures over the internet of a girl with an Elder and it has had some interesting repercussions. Anyway, it was a great opportunity. The branches here have had a number of baptisms from young people becoming interested through the english classes. One we hope will be Fareeda.

I believe I told you about her last week. Well, she finally told her very devout Islam parents that she wanted to be baptized. At first they put her on house arrest. However the next day they told her that she had to give Islam another chance. She must have nothing to do with the Church for 2 weeks, she must study her Koran, and she must wear her Jilbab (Islamic head covering) again. She is 20 and a university student. But her reaction when she met the Grovers for lunch was that at least they had a discussion together as a family. She called it their first family home evening, something they had never done before. She is a courageous woman.
We have all come to love her.

Also this week we took a "little" trip to Magelang. We left Solo around jam 10 pagi (10 a.m.) and drove into the hills. Well, to be completely accurate, we drove between two volcanoes. One dormant, one very active. Last year the active one (Merapi) blew up and buried a bunch of homes and farms. The funny thing is it is very close to Solo (about 30 klm) but we had not seen it because of the humid haze. Finally one day the wind was blowing and there it was north and west of us, big as ever. Anyway, we drove up and around the base of it to deliver two new bikes to the Elders in Magelang. Bono our driver was amazing up and around the switch backs, past the tiered farms of mangos, tobacco, bannanas, hot peppers, rice, etc. We took the Elders out to lunch, then we headed back. The trip was 2 hrs. up and about 4 1/2 back because Bono wanted us to see Jogya (Yogyakarta) and so we went sightseeing. Hey! You go where the driver takes you. He was so proud to show us, so we were grateful he was happy.

We also attended District meeting on Friday morning with the awesome Elders and Sisters. Thursday,Sister Peters texted the score between she and the rats. Sis. Peters 3-rats 0! She just clobbers them! (really!) Then Friday she gives this fabulous lesson from Preach My Gospel about the Book of Mormon. What a Sister!

Saturday Elder Greenway and I went for a walk, grabbed some groceries, and walked home. We bought a cable along the way so that we can watch movies on the T.V. We watched "17 Miracles" a wonderful movie about Levi Savage and the Willie Handcart company that we had purchased while at the MTC. That was "P" day.

Then today we attend Branch Conference at the Tangah Branch where the wonderful youth sang. I think I have told you about them and their love for music. Well, they were so perfect. We all cried, and the Spirit...well, it was very strong. The District Pres. commented for about 5 minutes about their example. We then attended the Barat Branch and finally a baptism. They have had one each weekend so far. They do baptisms on Sunday because the people don't have to travel twice. President Groberg said that mission-wide we have had 16 this month, a big increase. Elder Grover believes that it is because President has expected the missionaries to be obedient to the mission rules, and they have taken the challenge. A great improvement during the past year.

Finally, we lost Andrew this week. He was one of our cicuks. We found him short a leg the other day. Poor Andrew. It makes you stop and wonder where he lost the leg. Hmmm.... What is bigger than a cicuk? But Dad found Winston sitting atop his sneaker Saturday. We probably ought to start checking our shoes.
Well, I'd better let the Elder in this family give his 2 cents. He is a very nice missionary companion. He even went to great expense and bought me a "memory foam" mattress for my arthritic left hip. Actually, it was the 3 inch pad that sits atop the pillow soft mattresses. Ahhhhhhhh, it is wonderful You do remember that Asians slept for hundreds of years on a board. Well, let's just say that their mattresses carry on that tradition.

I certainly do love you all and appreciate your communications with us. It is always nices to get news from home, where ever home is. I hope you all are keeping in touch. It was nice to wish Matt and happy birthday on Skype. He is a big 33! Take care of each other, of friends and family. Go see Juanita and give her a hug for us. Someone might give us the news about her, we worry for her.

Much, much, love
Sis. G

Update - 10/10/2011

Your Mom & I just returned from the birthday party of the wife of one of our branch presidents.  He is a used car dealer and is very successful.  We went to his home in Kartasuda, I think.  We were there with the Grovers, the FTM Elders (both native) and the two Sisters - Peters and Tandiman (Native).  We had a wonderful time.  They were a very loving family and the whole group sat in their Javanese "pavilion" outside and they sang acapella, and with a guitar, and just enjoyed each other..  There were also some friends and other relatives.  The president's mother is a pioneer member dating back to 1972!  These are a wonderful, loving people.  We led them in "Eyes that blink blink blink" and they loved it.

 

Dad & Mom

Week 4

Selamat Siang! (Good late afternoon)

WE ARE NOT HOMELESS ANYMORE! We finally moved into an apartment yesterday. For us it is amazing news. We feel we have been homeless for so long, but today my clothes came from a closet, not a suitcase.

It is so much fun to do business when you have to play charades to let the other person know what you are talking about. But, I must say it would have been impossible without Ari, the young Indonesian who works for the mission home. He finally brokered the deal. We live in a “high rise”. The only one in Solo. It is a hotel/residence called the Paragon. We actually live in relative luxury, because we have A.C. and windows, and sinks and a toilet. We do not have hot water, (we will have, just in the shower, soon), an oven, or a washer (no one has a dryer).

Yesterday we went to the Hyper-mart which is the local grocery store to get the necessary things to outfit our home. Everyone must have a large teapot to boil water for their large water dispenser so that you have boiled water to use for cooking and washing your produce. We use the tepid water with soap and a titch of Clorox to wash our dishes, etc. Anyway, we filled two carts and when we went to check –out we actually became the store attraction. People came and watched us, checked out our nametags, tried to speak to your Dad, it was so funny. But just like America, they have a Hyper-mart card and we didn’t have one. So this man, who had asked us where we came from, had them swipe his card which produced a savings for us and we gave him the gadzillion bonus stamps that came shooting out of the cash register. His family helped us out of the store, which is in the basement of the Grand Mall, up the escalator ramp (yes it is an escalator where the stairs just do not form) and out of the Mall to get our taxi. We loaded that poor taxi, and then with the help of the doorman, the guard, and the taxi driver, unloaded the whole thing onto a hotel luggage cart and up to 109, our home.

Today we went to church to watch the Sunday sessions of Conference. I know you have already digested the amazing talks. I was so impressed with the call to press forward, be patient, and have faith. As usual it seemed every talk was for me. We watched it in the R.S /Font room with the Grover’s, the Elders, and a couple of Indonesians wanting to improve their English. Everyone else was in the chapel.

It is amazing in Solo. SLC must be getting ready for a burst of growth here, because there are four branches and there are two nice buildings with two branches each. The Church has invested a lot in its infrastructure in Indonesia. It is as though they want things in place before the growth happens. It will be wonderful to work hard so those blessings can happen.

After conference we attended a baptism at the Soeporno building. Many from the congregation had stayed to see a young man about 17 be baptized. The youth, about 25 in all from both branches, sang two songs. These people LOVE to sing.

We were introduced to the District President who invited us to correlation meeting next week. It is also one of the branch conferences that week. We will also be following the Grovers around for the week. They have done tremendous good here and we need to do some learning before they leave next month. So, finally we are getting started. As you all know, missions teach patience.

Well, I am going to go fix spaghetti for Elder Greenway. Yes! The Indonesians love “macaroni” in every shape, and we also found some spaghetti sauce. Wish me luck! Yesterday when I opened my flour a big bug crawled out. I thought perhaps that was something I would just have to get used to, but Sis. Grover said “No!” So I’ll dump it out. I now wait for things to crawl out of our food. Oh! Speaking of crawly things, we have two (at least) little Cicuks (pronounced Cheechuks) living with us. They are tiny lizards that are very common here. They eat the bad stuff so you leave them alone. One is hiding under our clothes drying rack, and the other is tucked down in the large decorative headboard of our bed. We have named them Winston and Andrew (our family will get this); we hope they should not have been named Winston and Tess!

Dad here:

Well, now I will add my two cents (or 2000 rupiah). While your Mom, Sister Greenway, was writing, I was trying to read. If you remember, we were told to buy Kindles and to get the lighted covers because the lighting was so dim here. Well, that is so true! We are in a new, modern apartment and the lighting consists of bare CFC bulbs of about 60 watt equivalents in ceiling fixtures in our 10-12 ft. ceilings. Because we are at the equator, the days and nights are equal so sunrise is about 6 am and sunset is about 6 pm. It is 6:09 pm and it is dark outside (it was cloudy today so it is a little darker a little sooner). Therefore, we need the lights on fairly early - so we notice the dimness of the lighting as opposed to the brightness of daylight coming through the windows. Also above the sink/stove area are two LED lights which are very much like flashlights! Enough about lights.

In spite of assurances, keeping in mind the language challenges, we do not have the internet in our apartment, yet. We were told that we would have WEFE (Wi-Fi), but apparently the WeFe is only for the hotel guests not her residents. The Grovers will help me with that, too. We’ll let you know when it is up and running – hopefully, tomorrow.

Your Mom mentioned the HyperMart. I got an application for a HyperMart card and it asked for: name, address, email, religion, and blood-type, and if I would be willing to donate my blood. No thanks, I’ll just use my VISA!

Everything else seems to be falling into place little by little. We are still real greenie’s. But like your Mom wrote – most people are very friendly and willing to be helpful with the language and otherwise. Mom told you about the family that helped us at HyperMart. She didn’t tell you about the family at the shoe store.
Sister Greenway needed a pair of sandals so we were shopping around the Grand Mall (HyperMart is in the basement) and this fellow noted my name tag. He pointed and in fair bahasa Englis called me elder and then showed me a picture of himself with the two sister missionaries in Solo. “These are my good friends,” he said. He then introduced us to his wife and daughter and granddaughter! Oh, the Indonesians love to have their pictures taken with the “bulais” (bulays). So we should be able to get some members’ pictures as we become more familiar.

Another interesting cultural anomaly. Table knives are not used. We have yet to see any except at the mission home. They eat with a soup spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left. Stuff is torn apart using the two and then eaten with the spoon. I’ve been trying it with limited but increasing success. Every dish contains either fried noodles or rice so you can see the practicality. Also, most meals are served with a scoop of rice (it looks like it was put in a cup and then the cup inverted so the rice is in a formed shape) with the other meal ingredients placed around the rice.

And finally, the love of coklat (chocolate)! They have two basic cold breakfast cereals – corn flakes and coklat. One corn flake and at least ten coklat cereals! They even pour coklat milk on their coklat cereal! I thought that that might be approaching semi-sweet status, but Sister Greenway says NO! They also have whole wheat, white and coklat chip bread.

And finally, Sister Greenway may be going completely bulai! It was a big duh for her to realize that you can only buy dark hair color here in Indonesia. You do not see any extreme hair colors, like a blond Indonesian. Nada Zip Zero. So unless someone can get your Mom’s color up in Jakarta, white she will be.

Well, this is all for now. We love and pray for you and love to see or at least hear from you on Skype. We are grateful for your love of the Gospel and for your prayers of support.

Love Elder & Sister Greenway

In Solo - Awaiting our Apartment

Hello all:

This will be our first try at [posting] some information and pictures. I'll start with our time in the MTC in Provo. [The picture below] is our Welfare Group. This was taken in the JS Memorial Building in SLC. [It] was taken before a meeting and luncheon. In the afternoon we were given a tour of Welfare Square. Pretty impressive.

Finally we got to Indonesia! [Below] are some pictures of the Mission Home/Mission Office/LDS Area Service Center. Here is the outside of the [Mission] Home side.

Here is the Office side. At the far right is a gate. You can see the same gate in the [first] photo on the left side.

This is what's in the "back yard." There is a lot of construction going on all over the city.

Here is a view of the inside of the front door looking to the back of the home.

This is our bedroom located down the hall you can see on the left.

The mission home also has a small home in the back for the housekeeper. An Indonesian member who holds the record for the longest employee of the church in Ind. Also in the back is an apartment for one of the senior couples - Bro & Sister Meredith. These last two are semi-connected to the mission building. In the very back of the mission home is the old Indonesion MTC that now is an apartment for the APs and has room for up to 20 missionaries such as what we had while we were there. There were 19 Indonesians heading for the Philippines MTC.

Love Dad

It's a Girl!

We're thinking Adriattica VonKerndelstein Greenway.

So... an update from the Orem Peeps here in Utah.
Joel and I are going crazy! Joel picking up shifts at work, balancing me (as we all know is a full-time job), school, Logan and selling himself (plasma-is this not a legalized form of prostitution?) it gets crazy for him. As for me I'm now cleaning apartments (O.M.G. GROSSNESS), doing inspections for the company that kinda laid me off, my calling (which I absolutely LOVE), Logan, and book club (one of my favorite things). And yet we still are finding time for some fun, which is a necessity.
Funny how you make lists of all the things you are doing and its good knowing you're busy, its a fulfilling feeling!
Logan is crawling and pulling himself up and just wrecking havoc! We love it! He is a happy boy and loves being with mom an/or dad. I love this new phase of our lives!
Joel is almost done with school, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. He has already applied to be a PA State Trooper but haven't heard anything back, we still want to head back to the east coast (anywhere) but understand that we might not end up there. I do have a few states that I have nixed and I think the Lord is ok with these states being nixed off our list: Utah (no offense), Idaho (sorry Sara), and Michigan (known to be the most dangerous state to live in).
All-in-all we are doing good, going to the temple at least 1 a month, saying our prayers together, and daily scripture reading (either by ourselves or with Logan) help us stick together with dealing with each of our stresses and busy lives. I have been wanting to start a Blog (but have been too busy to even start one) to help me relieve my stress and vent about nothing but the good things that are happening to help me keep things in perspective and not focus on the crap of life.... :)
We love reading this blog and love hearing from everyone on here and Facebook!

To the Greenway Grandkids‏:

Dear Nate, Eli, Madelynne, Isaac, Gavin, Cecily, William, Andrew, Jackson, Sadie, Kate, Logan, & ?

Hello all my Super-duper kids! I wanted to tell you a little about Indonesia and the people here. First of all, the people are very, very nice! They don't have alot of things like money, and toys, and toilets, big houses. They do have happiness, and kindness, and the members LOVE to come to church. Most of the people here go to a different church called the Muslim Church. They call Heavenly Father Allah.

They eat lots of rice. Nasi Goreng is a favorite. Nasi is how they say rice. Goreng is how they say fried. They like to make their food spicey! All of the houses have Cicuks. You say that word "cheechuks". Those are little lizards. They eat mosquitoes and other bugs, so you like to have them around. They scamper here and there. They are about 2-3 inches long.

People here don't have cars. Most of them walk, take a bus, or ride motor scooters. THEY ARE CRAZY DRIVERS! They drive the English way, we would think they drive on the wrong side of the road. The children go to school just like you. When they are 10 they learn english in their classrooms and then they have 6 years of english.

Well, I will tell them all about you when we go to the town we will live in. It is called Solo. I will show them your pictures, and tell them how much I love you. Then I will take pictures of the people here and send them to you!!!

Be happy and good children!
We love you!!!!!

Gramma and Grampa G.

Week 3

Dear People not in Indonesia!

We are in beautiful Solo Indonesia. The President sent us to find a place to live. We flew down yesterday and met the Grovers a senior couple who have been here 15 months, and their driver, Bono, who has been driving senior couples for many years. There are a million taxis, many mini-mini-vans (purchased by people and rented then driven by hired drivers), and a gadzillion motor scooters. They have lines painted on the roads, but I don’t think that anyone can see them. There is a reason they will not let us drive. However, Indonesian drivers are very polite, everyone just moves around and helps other to get where they are going.

Most homes here have one room that is used as a “kitchen” (that means a sink, but you can’t drink the water, a propane hot plate, and a teeny fridge), an eating area, and a sitting area. There is also a bedroom (the Grovers has A.C.) and a “bathroom” with a squat hole and a deep basin from which you dip water to pour over you. Grover’s actually has a toilet you can flush. Most of the rooms have decorative cut outs on the walls that go outside(with screens over them) and that is your A.C. We weren’t able to see many apts. because the Sister Missionaries were having a problem with the rats in their apt. So, Brother Greenway and Brother Grover put a drain cover in the kitchen, and two in the bathroom to keep the rats out. I thought of Emily in Equador and I wondered if Sis. Peter’s mother in Twin Falls Idaho had any idea that her daughter was killing rats. However, Sis. Peters is dreading going home in a few months. She and her native companion bike all over Solo in all that crazy traffic.

Late yesterday afternoon we sat in on a discussion with the Elders and Fareeda a 20 year old Muslim girl who wants to be baptized. Her parents are devout Muslim. She has not yet told them of her desire, however the Elders think that they already know. We are praying for her. The Elders in Solo wear batik shirts. Last week there was a suicide bomber that blew himself up about a block from one of our buildings. So our leaders went to the police and asked what we could do to help keep the peace. They said that the white shirts called attention to our Elders. So they now wear the bright and beautiful batik shirts typical of Indonesia, only with their name tags clipped on.

Speaking of Elders, last Friday the Indonesian wards and branches sent out 19 new missionaries to the MTC in Manila. We fed them at the mission home before they left. They were wonderful! They are the future of the Church in Indonesia. Now back to Fareeda! She asked me if Pennsylvania was close to Conn. I said yes. She asked me if Conn. was scary. “???!”, I said. She told me she heard that people rise up out of their graves in Conn. I said no, but that there were many old graveyards, and many old houses. She said that she heard the houses were all haunted! Only in the movies said I. This was all said in her bad English and my bad Indonesian. Wadu! (that means wow!)

Soon after the Fareeda conversation I went to hear the YW & YM practice singing for their Branch Conf. taking place in 3 weeks. They are singing “If the Savior Stood Beside Me” (in parts Sis. Kellis!). It was amazing!!! Indonesian people LOVE to sing and sing well. I think they are related to the Welch. Most of their young people know how to lead music well, too. I told them we had a hard time getting our young people to sing. They were shocked. We had so much fun. They had a hard time pronouncing the English “th”. So they kept asking to do it again and again.

We will be back in Jakarta tonight and stay there until we get out Kitas, (sort of an internal visa). Then we will be off to Solo to live when we are not hopping around the country. We attended two branches today and were asked to introduce ourselves during testimony meeting. General Conf. runs a week late here. Everyone wants to help you with the language. We loved it.

President and Sister Groberg are delightful. We have loved staying here and getting to know them. They have some tremendous responsibilities. We have almost been here a week now. It is amazing how far we’ve come. We hope all is well with you. Keep us posted about your lives. We miss you and love you all so much. We haven’t had time to look at the family blog. I hope tomorrow… We will also try to download some pictures. Well, it is late. I will see you next week. Be happy!!!

Kami doa bagi kami, terimakasih kekal keluarga…
mom