Week 85

Happy Almost May!"

 

It still amazes us.... how the time seems to fly by.  April is gone, and here comes May.  We already know that May will be a crazy busy month, so much already on the agenda.  Soon we will be saying, Whoa!  It's June!!!  But while it is still April, we would like to say "Happy Avinursery"! John and Lynn!!!  and.... "Happy, Happy, glorious B.Day to our beautiful Amy (coming up on May 4th)!!!!!!!!

 

We will do this up quickly, we have a wedding celebration at 6:30 p.m. (another wedding we'll attend for someone we don't know.)  The wedding is for a cousin of a member we DO know, and they love to have the missionaries attend, so off we'll go.  But the big news of the week is that Elder Greenway baptized Luki today, said the baptismal prayer IN INDONESIAN with no trouble, and made Luki one happy little boy.  Luki kept looking at us all during Sacrament meeting, shook our hand about 10 times, kept watching Elder G. all during the opening comments at the baptism, and had a huge smile when it was over.  The Bishop said, in his remarks, that when he asked Luki why he wanted to be baptized, Luki replied, "So I can be a missionary."  We missed our grandson Eli's baptism, and that was very hard.  So it was a treat to be a part of Luki's baptism.  To have baptized 2 children in one family gives us a big investment into the families success.  We love them dearly.

 

We are busy with piano!  Three new students this week.  I feel a little bad taking new students because I will not be here long enough to see them progress to where they want to be, PLAYING THE HYMNS!  But I will get them started, and then we'll see...  We have been contacted by the couple who are suppose to replace us, but of course that is up to the new Mission President who will be here in June.  They are from Arizona, and we hope they WILL come to Solo.  We know that the Knorpps will be here for 6 months after we leave, and so that keeps us happy.  They are doing a super tremendous job getting the Family History program going in all the Wards in Indonesia.  Not a small job, but they have been very successful.  It is so hard in central Java, (Solo) because people do not have family names, and many have only one name.  For instance, Bono's real name is Sarbono and that is it!  There is nothing to tie the generations together.  Most people know their grandparents names, and that's it.

 

We finally made it to Boyalali (we leave at 9:30 a.m. and get back around 4 p.m.) to see our dear Kini and Markini.  We have really missed them.  They are still amazing.  The Sisters asked them if they were still reading the Book of Mormon, and Kini said that her husband took it to work to read at lunch time.  Markini said her good friend had asked to read it, so it was at her home.  They have read all of the old conference issue of the Liahona, and were thrilled to know there would be a new one.   So next visit we will take them more Books of Mormon, and a few Liahonas.  We just hugged and hugged.  I wish I could pack them up a bring them home with me.  I suggested that, and Kini asked what she would do with her husband.  I just waved my hand like, Oh well...who needs a husband, and we all laughed and laughed.

 

We also went to the government hospital on Friday to see Brother Slamato.  We have been to that hospital numerous times, but it still creeps us out.  Brother Slamato was in a room with 7 other patients, no air conditioning, families sleeping on mats on the floor, dirty, smelly, and just sad.  I think I told you that we went once to see a new mom, and there were at least 15 new moms, and new babies all smashed into one room.  Anyway, Elder looked over the medication in the I.V. and just sitting on the little bedside table, and figures Brother Slamato was in there for a bleeding ulcer.  So Elder could sympathize.  We had Bono ask if he wanted a blessing and he said yes, so we drew the curtain best we could, and Elder and Bono gave him a blessing.  His son was there, but as soon as they started to pray he was out of there.  He is probably Muslim.  When Brother Slamato fell asleep, I shook hands with all the women in the room, and then we left.  We were probably all they talked about the rest of the day...they sure stared at us while we were there.  Then it is hand sanitizer all around when we got to the car!

 

We also had Seminary English 3 nights this week, we are working on doing a fourth night at Kapatihan.  Tomorrow we will have 14 missionaries (including ourselves) to our apartment for P.Day. We will watch "How to Train Your Dragon" (to thank them for helping with the Stake Choir), have a lesson, and eat lunch. (Taco Soup was the vote winner).  So I am off to fry up some hamburger, run to a wedding, and grab some sleep.  We LOVE it!  We love these Elders and Sisters!  We love the Knorrps!  AND WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!  Keep smilin'....

 

 

Da mom and Da Dad

Week 85 Photos #1

On Thursday, we traveled up to Ngadirojo again to visit Kini and Markini at their home.  Here are some random photos of the trip, plus Sister Manullang and Sister Hutcheson win a picture with them.

This is the road to Kini and Markini's homes.

As we left the area of the Sisters apartment, after picking them up, I recorded a few typical street scenes.

The older women was heading up the street - I noted her PVC cane.

This particular warung is a fresh fruit stand.  It was closed at the time.

Here are some home-made soy chips drying in the sun (they will later be deep fried) and some cooked rice, that Bono says will be chicken food.

 

Here is a photo of something we see every time we go to the sisters' apartment.  They live behind this Masjid (Mosque) and Kristen (Christian) Church.  These two "churches" are side by side and I was told that they share offices.  If they don't, they are close enough for that to be true.

You do see a lot of Masjid.  Here is one at a Pertimina (national) bensin (gasoline) station.

Driving into Boyolali, you cross these red crossing zones.  They are located from Kartasura into Boyolali and mark school crossing areas.

Here is the entrance to the Boyolali Bus Station.  Buses run regularly, sometime every thirty minutes or less to just about anywhere and the tarif (cost) is cheap by US standards.  Though there are some bus companies, there are also many independent buses.

On the road to Salatiga, which passes our turn off to Ngadirojo, there has been a lot of road construction (road widening) during our time in Indonesia.  These workers are finishing the rock wall/water gutters.  There is heavy equipment in use; but, note how labor intensive and manual in nature it is, and that everyone working.

Week 85 Photos #2

On Sunday evening, we attended the wedding of Banu and Anna.  It was a typical Javanese Wedding, sauna and steam bath.  There were decorative air conditioners in the reception hall.

The Wedding Planner was Ima, Didits wife.  She not only plans the event, but also guides the couple (and other participants) through the ceremony.

Here are the bride and groom being led into the festivities by the fathers and followed by the mothers.

The bride, Anna, and groom, Banu, with their parents.

There were Wedding Singers!

I had to include this close-up.  As an ex-therapist, I kept thinking ... money in the bank!!!  Where's my business card!?!?! 

I hope you remember Refiro.  He is Sri Rejekti and Surono's son.  When the music started, he immediately picked up his AIR GUITAR!!!!

And no wedding is complete without a photo op with the bule's.  Actually, here are the missionaries.  OK... can we leave now before someone melts !?!?!

Week 84

Dearest and most wonderful family and friends,

 

"I think the world is glorious and lovely as can be!"  This week has been a glorious week!!!  We know that the U.S. has had it's share of tragedies during the week, but in beautiful Solo, Indonesia we bask in the feelings of warmth that living in the tropics can bring, and the feelings of warmth that come from the Spirit of God.  The beginning of the week was somewhat normal.  We taught piano, we taught English, we went searching for the less active, AND we prepared for Stake Conference.  So we will fast forward to Friday.  But before we do that, we would like to wish John and Lynn a Happy Anniversary on the 29th, just in case we forget next week!!!!

 

Friday began with and early DDM.  Those dear missionaries moved the meeting forward to have time to complete there appointments before the 5:00 p.m. Stake Choir Practice.  I believe I mentioned last week that the Stake President let us cancel Seminary and Institute for Friday night to make room for that last practice. DDM was a marvel.  Our new District Leader, Elder Lee, has asked that all DDMs be conducted in English from now on.  He is doing that to help the Indonesian Elders and Sisters learn English.  So, there is some translating, but the meeting is in English.  Also, last week he gave us each a card with the name of an Apostle or member of the First Presidency.  He gave us the assignment to listen to that person's talk in General Conference and to: 1. Share the topic.  2. Listen for 3 important points to share.  3. Use a scripture that was used in the talk.  4.  Apply the talk to missionary work. 5. Report all of this in 1 minute at DDM in English!  For some of the Indonesian Missionaries this was a big deal.  But every report was wonderful, and both English speaking and those Indonesian Missionaries did a tremendous job.  We were so impressed. 

 

By that time on Friday we had realized that we would have 11 guests to our apartment for a luncheon after Stake Conference on Sunday.  So Bono zoomed to Lotto Mart to pick up a few things for beef stew, etc... then zoomed us to the apartment to put things away, and then we zoomed to Kapatihan for choir practice.  Now we will not talk about that final, beautiful practice, only to say that everyone was there, and that I asked that in their personal prayers they ask for the Spirit to abide in our hearts, and the hearts of those who would hear us sing.  Then Widap said a lovely closing prayer for all of us, and everyone lingered to enjoy the Spirit that beautiful music brings.  Friday evening Elder and I prepared all the fixings for Beef Stew to be ready to cook on Saturday.

 

NOW... Saturday we had an appointment with the Jebres Elders (Elders Watson and Wijaya) to visit with a family.  Do you remember way back about week 10 or so when Elder baptized sweet Lala, the young girl who was afraid of the water?  Her family moved from a pretty horrible home near the church, to a much nicer home somewhat further from the church.  That move has stopped piano lessons for Lala, her sister Kiki, and her brother Luki.  It has also stopped Kiki's attendance at Seminary although her older sister Loan (Lowahnn) has been coming so....  We also knew that Luki should have been baptized months ago, but his non-member father had not yet given permission, and the Mother, Diah, wanted Elder and I to ask for his permission.  So the Elders made an appointment, and we fetched them, and drove to the humble new home.  We just visited for a while.  Besides Lala, Luki, Kiki, and Loan, there are 2 little brothers Moses, and Enso.  There are actually 13 children but the rest are older.  So we shared some candy with the children, Elder teased Moses and Enso, and we talked to their father about his work.  Then we gave them one of our family pictures.  We talked about families being our important purpose here on earth.  We told them we loved their family and wanted them to remember us, because we would never forget them.  Then we asked if we could come on Tuesdays and get them for piano and seminary, and they agreed.  Then we asked the father, if Luki agreed, if Elder could have the honor to baptized Luki.  HE AGREED!  We asked when they would like this to happen, and they said NEXT SUNDAY!  Joyful! Joyful! Joyful!  Now you have to realize that most of this was being translated to them through Elder Watson.  So it took some time.  It was a lovely meeting. So next Sunday...

 

Then we zoomed home to mix up the stew and get it in the crock pot, and the stove pot. (We needed a lot of stew).  Saturday evening was the adult session of Stake Conference, which is always wonderful no matter WHAT Stake you live in.  After that meeting Pres. Ipung, a very erect, stoic, member of the Stake Presidency came to us and asked when we go home.  I told him August 12, and he started to count on his fingers and then he stopped and pushed out his bottom lip in sadness and just looked at us.  Whenever someone does that I dissolve into tears, and then it seemed that those tears just hovered near the surface all night and all of today.  

 

At 9:55 a.m. the youth and young single adults of the 4 Solo Wards stood and sang "As Sisters in Zion/We'll Bring the World His Truth" medley.  If we sang it 10 times in a row, it would not have ever been as perfect as that one time.  Then Conference began, they did the sustainings etc., then the choir stood again and sang "This Is The Christ".  I think we all have had experiences in our lives when the strength of the Holy Spirit is so strong that our hearts pound and our own spirit is lifted and soars.  To have that strength penetrate the entire space of that large building was more than I have ever known.  Intense is the word that comes to mind.  When it was over, the Stake President audibly exhaled a sigh.  The list of excellent speakers went on, then the Stake President spoke about becoming perfected in Christ.  Toward the end of his talk, he spoke about when Christ comes again.  Amazing, considering we had never spoken about his topic or the name of the closing song which the Choir then performed.  They stood and sweetly sang, "I Wonder When He Comes Again", first in Indonesian, then in English.  "Each day I'll try to do my part, and let my light so shine. That others seeing me may seek, for greater light divine.  And when that blessed day is come, He'll LOVE me and He'll say, "You've served me well my little child.  Come into my arms to stay."  Can it ever be better than that?  I know the prayers of those youth were answered in a very profound way.  They felt it, and they would look at me all during the meeting and smile teary smiles.  We love them with great appreciation for being just simply so faithful.  We have learned a lifetime of lessons from them.  They live so humbly, they give so richly, and they go on so nobly.  We are blessed by their love.

 

We pray for you and yours each day.  We know that some of you are carrying heavy hearts.  We have learned from these beautiful, brown, glorious people to have faith.  With that faith comes peace, and instruction.  We love you all and are always concerned for your welfare.  Try to hold on and smile...

 

With great love and joy,

 

Mom & Dad 

Week 84 Photos #1

Well, Week 84 was a full week.  I decided to include some street scenes along with our newsy stuff.  To start:

We attended another funeral this week.  It was held on Friday for Brother Sugeng.  He was a mentally challenged member who lived with his brother Wisnu and Wisnu's wife, Kristin.  They are less active and we have visited with them in the past.  Three months ago we attended the funeral of Wisnu's other brother.  Wisnu's father had been district president in years past and very active.  This neighborhood is very close to the Soeomo Building.

Here is the Bishop and Stake President finalizing the "Church Program" held in the home prior to the "Neighborhood Program."  Elder Lee was asked to speak.  You can also see Sister Hutcheson and Sister Manulang.

This is a typical sight at the entrance to the home.  Very Javanese.

The neighbors and friends were seated outside.  Snack pastries, water and handkerchiefs (for sweat, not tears) were provided.

And at the conclusion, the casket was hustled off with lights and siren to the cemetery.

I just needed to include this shot.  This is a neighborhood MCK.

It is a "2-holer."

Week 84 Photos #2

We've mentioned in the past that the main street of Solo is Jalan Slamet Riyadi.  jalan = street.  He was a college age student and hero of the War for Independence for Indonesia,

Turn left at the statue and proceed past the Kantor Pos and the Bank of Indonesia and you come to the St Antonius Katolik Gereja.

And if you continue straight on this street you will eventually come to the Kepatihan Building.  This is the fresh, young coconut and lemon jusice vendor with his set-up just outside the wall of the church.

Here is one of the larger hospitals here in the city.  Rumah Sakit Dr. Oen (dr. Oen Sick House).

On Saturday afternoon, when we were heading for Diah (the mother, the Dad isn't a member, yet), Loan, Kiki, Lala, Luki, Moses, and Enzo's house, we crossed over one of the larger canals Kali Anyar.

This is a neighborhood/village Mas'jid on the road to Diah's home.

And finally, these are the famous "Doll-Faced monkeys" of Indonesia.  They are called that because many of the monkeys wear plastic doll faces as part of their antics.   The monkeys do various tricks and the boys then ask for money.  

Week 84 Photos #3

And last, but certainly not the least are the photos from the Surakarta Stake Conference (Konferensi Pasak Surakarta) held on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday evening, between sessions, food boxes were provided for all of the attendees of leadership and the adult session.  Like we've said before, tables are unnecessary.  These sessions were held in the Soepomo building.

The Sunday session had to be moved from the Novotel Hotel ballroom where we've held it in the past.  Apparently a Christian service or activity of some sort was held in one of the hotels in Solo, and a Muslim group disrupted it and the police would not intervene, so the hotel, acknowledging that they could not provide sufficient security asked that we have conference elsewhere, so we ended up here.  It was not as large and the AC left much to be desired!!!  However, it was just across the street from our apartment.

Here are our greeters !!!  Sister Manulang, Elder James, Elder Lee, SIster Situmorang, and SIster Canty.  Sister Canty and Sister Treyes (not present) are the NEW Mission Training Sisters for the Mission.

THE SOLO  YOUTH AND YSA CHOIR !!!

The Surakarta Stake Leadership, including President and Sister Groberg and the Stake Patriarch.

These brethren and a few more not seated, yet, are those who are to be sustained to the Melchizedek Priesthood - Elders and High Priests. 

Some good friends:  (L) Yuli and Muji (receipient of the RS Women's Foundation Grant.)

Sister Frisca (who will become Sister Lindha on her mission to Australia Brisbane Mission) and Deviah (Diah's daughter and Bono's step-daughter).