Welcome, welcome, Sabbath evening!
We are very grateful for the blessings of the past week. Many blessings have been given to us in ever lovely Indonesia, and many given half way around the world. It doesn't matter where, we have felt those blessings.
Matt and Tanya had little Luke to the Pediatric Urologist and he believes that whatever is "different" about Luke's "disposal system" is anatomically correct for Luke. In other words, he thinks Luke will grow out of the problem. He still is going to one more test, because his left kidney is larger than the right, but so far he isn't worried. Such a blessing... We will wait for this Thursday's test results, but everyone was much relieved. Rebekah and Joel are now safely in Pennsylvania...thanks so much to Adam took the time off to help drive the big truck across the country, and to Amy for being the lone parent so Adam could go!... thanks to Matt and Tanya for letting them camp out at their home....and thanks to Emily and Ty for fetching Rebekah and Logan from BWI, and opening up the house for their use. John and Lynn will arrive on July 5th and will be looking for a place to live, probably in Elizabethtown or Mt. Joy areas. Oh! and then there is cute Sara, who had "belly dancing lessons" on her birthday! Wow! What a family!!! This week might be the Nations birthday, but in our family the week belongs to Isaac who will be 6 years old on July 5th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ISAAC!!!! We have had a number of blessings in paradise this week, and Elder Greenway worked very hard for them, so he will tell you all about them.
Monday began with our taking the Sister missionaries, Sister Blake and Sister Neis, to the water project office at Ampel/Ngadirojo. As we've mentioned, they are teaching two women there. Last Saturday, Bishop Catur hosted a "Family Home Evening" at a local fire station with a number of ward members, some non-members, but especially these two women and their husbands. Moko drove them down from Ngadirojo to the FHE, then back to to Ngadirojo, and then he returned the next day for church! It's about an hour+ each way. While the sisters taught, I had Kowo take us around to several MCKs and poly tanks that we have not seen at all or we saw them a good while back. Except for the laying of pipe into individual homes, which will be on-going for a while, the project is nearly completed. It is so neat to see the units, up and completed and the community using them! When we returned to Solo about 2 PM we took the sister out to "lunch" at a restaurant just outside of Boyolali. Two of the dishes we shared was gorame bakar (grilled fish) and cap cay (stir-fried vegetables). SEE PHOTOS. Everyone seemed to enjoy except Sister Blake, who won't eat fish. Then back to Solo by around 4PM. A good day.
On Tuesday, Sister Greenway stayed in Solo to prepare for piano lessons while I traveled with Elder Healy (local Humanitarian missionary), Elder and Sister Henrie from Orem, Utah (who oversees the humanitarian projects in the Asia area for the church), with Moko driving. We went to the Jenawi project that was just ending when we arrived in Indonesia. We visited a community literally on the mountainside - Lawu. We hiked about a half mile up the mountain toward the upper water source (the one Elder and Sister Grover spent 6 hours trekking to); however, we stopped at a cement water reservoir/distribution tank. Elder Henrie needed some photos. Then back to Lawu and on to Jenawi where we then hiked to the lower water source above Jenawi. More photos and then back to Solo. We got back around 4PM so I had them drop me off at Kapatihan to be with Sister Greenway and piano lessons. Later that evening, at Elder Healy's invitation, we had dinner with them at their hotel. The restaurant was excellent and I got to eat real BEEF!!
Wednesday saw me again going with Moko, Elder and Sister Henrie and Elder Healy up to Ampel/Ngadirojo. We walked the "sample street", checked out some MCKs and then hiked to the lower water source located up the canyon from the village. We had gone there about a month ago with the full-time missionaries and Elder Healy while Sister Greenway and Sister Healy worked at the Ampel school and village office. On our return trip from this project, we visited a 5+ year old project on the other side of Ampel Kota named Kaliwungu. Unfortunately, this was one of the first projects done in Indonesia, and the water committee was apparently not organized well and the system was in need of serious attention for several reasons. These were pump, not gravity systems, and many MCKs were without water. I think that Sutarno will be asked to check things out for our information for future reference. On our return to Solo, I caught up with Sister Greenway at Soepomo for her piano lessons there.
On Thursday, we bid farewell to the Henries and Elder Healy who were off to Yogja and Magelang. Sister Greenway and I met up with Sri, and Gilan from UCP for the distribution of 14 wheelchairs. We went to the outskirts of Klaten again, to the green Masjid (Mosque). As those who received their wheelchairs were leaving, I notice a young woman ask her mother to bring her over to me. She then sincerely thanked me for her chair. Her previous form of transport was on her mother’s back! We then went into Klaten Kota, to the home of ex-Sister Sari's grandmother to fit her with her wheelchair. Sister Sari, now known as Ariyana (long story about names) was very lonely post mission and so very glad to see us again. We were really happy to be able to help her grandmother.
Friday was DDM and then off to visit a couple members. Bono took us to Endang's home/general store, just outside of Solo Kota. She is Irma's (Bishop Catur's wife) sister. She's single and in her late 40s and mother to an adopted son - Samuel. She then took us to her sister-in-law's home where we met her and Endang's niece, Indah, both of whom are less-active. We returned to Solo Kota, where we made our regular Raja Ayam stop for Mie Ayam and then to Kapatihan to work with the youth to sing "Arise", the theme song for AP/YW this year. Then at Gospel English Class we worked on writing testimonies in English. This is really working out nicely !
Saturday was P-Day and we cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and shopped and Sister Greenway made cookie dough for our Primary Activity (Solo 2) to make Snicker Doodles. We hauled Mr. Easy Bake (oven) and other needed items to Soepomo where Sister Greenway guided the kids as they rolled cookie dough balls in cinnamon sugar and put them on cookie sheets. Elder Greenway then kept watch as they baked in the church's oven and Mr. Easy Bake. Do I need to say that the cookies were eaten almost as soon as they came out of the ovens? Apparently, a successful activity!
Sunday we went to Kapatihan and then at noon, to Soepomo to get some last minute information from the Youth Conference chairman - Bayu. Then home to relax away the rest of the day.
This week we are heading off to Jawa Tengah Youth Conference near Semarang on the Java Sea side of the Island. There are about 90 youth going from this new Stake! We are most excited about the fact that Bimo, one of Sister Greenway's piano students, is going. His family is Muslim and have been attending English lessons off and on for about 6 months. Pray that all will be well with him as he spends time with many church members his age.
This Youth Conference has been completely organized by many of the Young Single Adults from Solo. When we attended a planning meeting we were so surprised at the average age of the planners, probably about 28! They have done a remarkable job. We'll fill you in next week.
Thus ends week 42 in the continuing saga down under (well, almost).
We love you all - take care of each other,
Love Mom and Dad
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Week 41 Photos
This week I thought to share some of the beauty of this island nation! Everywhere we go there are flowers of all kinds. Wild poinsettia, orchids, wild flowers, roses -- so many I can't name them all (even if I knew their names). But there is something blooming all the time. Here are some samples.
Week 41
To the wonderful people who are our family and friends,
When last week’s letter went out we had not yet been able to speak to Adam about the joyful event that his family experienced last weekend. Some of you may not be aware that their family adopted a little girl last November. Well, Tuesday the adoption became final and beautiful Elia Melanie was sealed to Adam, Amy, Nate, Eli, and Cecily... June 16th in the Salt Lake City Temple. We were so grateful to those of you who could attend, and pretty emotional that we were not there. But the joy outweighs everything else, and we are grateful for that eternal and sacred sealing ordinance.
You may also remember that a few weeks ago we were worrying about our grandson Luke, Matt and Tanya's baby, who was born a bit early because a kidney ailment had been discovered. A recent ultrasound shows that there is a definite problem, so he will be seen by a urologist this next Thursday. We are of course praying and hoping that any needed correction will be minor. Again, pretty emotional, but grateful for Luke's strong and faithful parents.
Then there is the fact that Joel finished his last class (with an A- average I might add) and has graduated from UVU! There are a few of his grade-school teachers that would be shocked, and others that we need to thank. This is reminiscent of the "parting of the Red Sea"! Another of the many miracles that have been part of his life. We are so grateful and proud of him. Add to all this; John has a new position with his work and is moving back to Pennsylvania; Joel is moving into our home in Pennsylvania until he begins work; .... and you can see we have had a very busy week on skype, and email.
Otherwise, we have also been busy with the work at hand! It is amazing the happiness you feel when someone comes back to church. As we have visited, we have kept in touch with the young missionaries, sending them out to talk to those we find. We have seen some definite miracles, and the Young Single Adults have also been out visiting. They are the key... they can accomplish so much more than we can. We have been out searching almost every day. On Wednesday we had a real miracle. We set out to find Agung at the address on the Solo 2 Ward list. Dear, dear Bono drives then stops and asks, then drives and stops and asks, until we find the street that leads to the alley, that leads to the pathway, that turns and leads to the other smaller pathway that leads to the home where sadly Agung has moved from… but!!!!!! where his 2 sisters live, who are also on our list!!!! (only we didn't know they were family because they don't have family names usually in Indonesia!!!) Now, they are all married (nix on the YSAs) but they were active for ten years before they moved to Batam (an island) for 7 years where there is no church, and now they are back. We gave them new copies of the Book of Mormon, invite them to Church, explained that we have become a Stake, and even got permission from their kind Muslim father to have a prayer in their home. We are sending the Elders, and the Sisters to see them.
On Thursday we went to Wonosaren, and area in the Jeberes Ward. We found Bro. Sutomo (Bro. Sukro's father), and Bro. Sukro is almost our age. This dear old gentleman spent the whole afternoon walking us (in his bare feet) all over that neighborhood finding a bunch of families that we would never have found. We visited dear Sis. Renum, the mother of Agus, who we were looking for. He was at work, so she joined the party and took us to see Joko, who is active, but he gave us some needed information. Then Sutomo, Bono, Renum, Elder Greenway and I headed for Eni's, a sort of active woman who served a mission the same time Bono did. We were looking for her brother, who was asleep, so she joined us and we found the family of another girl who was not home, but her mother was at home. The mother is a member, attending another church, but the older sister is an active member in Surabaya and also served with Bono.
ARE YOU TOTALLY CONFUSED?!? We just kept writing all this information down, and then at DDM on Friday, we just handed out slips of paper with all these addresses and information to the Missionaries. It was a very fruitful week.
On the lighter side, we have been asked to do some very interesting things since we arrived. Next week, actually July 4th, we have been asked to do a 2-hour presentation for the Surakarta Stake Youth Conference. We are to include a warning against the addictions and evils of pornography. Elder Greenway is to speak in church the Sunday after that, we are to do a presentation for Zone Conference, and today the Stake President asked us if we could teach "dense". Maybe every week "dense"..., or maybe twice a month "dense"??? We kept looking at him and he kept saying "dense", which is exactly how we felt! Finally, Sister Irma came by and we asked her to interpret. They conversed a bit in Indonesian, and then she laughed and said that the Stake President would like us to teach "dense", ...however she included with that a little "dance"! Ohhhhhhh!!!!! Elder and Sister Roberts, a mission couple years ago, taught square dancing, etc. We told him we would look into it.... AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH :{ So, if any of you have any good computer site for "line dancing", "square dancing", etc., please, HELP! Next week we are making cookies with about 40 primary kids, and after that, 15 Young Women are also making cookies. THAT is a piece of cake! (or should I say cookie?)
Finally, we told you about the Sister's referral in Boyalali, about an hour away. There is no church there and the women they are teaching are happily, and earnestly accepting the Gospel. In fact, they want more copies of the Book of Mormon to give to their entire church! When the Sisters asked if the President was prepared to send Elders to Boyalali, he basically told them they needed to be realistic.
But today, Elder Greenway sat and visited with Elder Subandriyo, the Area Authority Seventy, and together, in their enthusiastic minds, they already have the building built in Boyalali. We are hoping this enthusiasm leads to expanding the area. We are hoping we will continue making weekly trips, with the missionaries in tow, to Boyalali to teach, ...then Elders will be living there, ...then the building, ...then the Temple...... The water project is nearing completion, so "the time is far spent, there is little remaining".... Time to be anxiously engaged!
We love to be part of this work! We can learn to love "densing", we will do whatever it takes to move the Church forward. We hope you are praying for the people of Indonesia! We are and we are praying that the Knorpps, the new Senior Couple coming in July, know how to "dense"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With absolute faith!
Elder and Sister Greenway
When last week’s letter went out we had not yet been able to speak to Adam about the joyful event that his family experienced last weekend. Some of you may not be aware that their family adopted a little girl last November. Well, Tuesday the adoption became final and beautiful Elia Melanie was sealed to Adam, Amy, Nate, Eli, and Cecily... June 16th in the Salt Lake City Temple. We were so grateful to those of you who could attend, and pretty emotional that we were not there. But the joy outweighs everything else, and we are grateful for that eternal and sacred sealing ordinance.
You may also remember that a few weeks ago we were worrying about our grandson Luke, Matt and Tanya's baby, who was born a bit early because a kidney ailment had been discovered. A recent ultrasound shows that there is a definite problem, so he will be seen by a urologist this next Thursday. We are of course praying and hoping that any needed correction will be minor. Again, pretty emotional, but grateful for Luke's strong and faithful parents.
Then there is the fact that Joel finished his last class (with an A- average I might add) and has graduated from UVU! There are a few of his grade-school teachers that would be shocked, and others that we need to thank. This is reminiscent of the "parting of the Red Sea"! Another of the many miracles that have been part of his life. We are so grateful and proud of him. Add to all this; John has a new position with his work and is moving back to Pennsylvania; Joel is moving into our home in Pennsylvania until he begins work; .... and you can see we have had a very busy week on skype, and email.
Otherwise, we have also been busy with the work at hand! It is amazing the happiness you feel when someone comes back to church. As we have visited, we have kept in touch with the young missionaries, sending them out to talk to those we find. We have seen some definite miracles, and the Young Single Adults have also been out visiting. They are the key... they can accomplish so much more than we can. We have been out searching almost every day. On Wednesday we had a real miracle. We set out to find Agung at the address on the Solo 2 Ward list. Dear, dear Bono drives then stops and asks, then drives and stops and asks, until we find the street that leads to the alley, that leads to the pathway, that turns and leads to the other smaller pathway that leads to the home where sadly Agung has moved from… but!!!!!! where his 2 sisters live, who are also on our list!!!! (only we didn't know they were family because they don't have family names usually in Indonesia!!!) Now, they are all married (nix on the YSAs) but they were active for ten years before they moved to Batam (an island) for 7 years where there is no church, and now they are back. We gave them new copies of the Book of Mormon, invite them to Church, explained that we have become a Stake, and even got permission from their kind Muslim father to have a prayer in their home. We are sending the Elders, and the Sisters to see them.
On Thursday we went to Wonosaren, and area in the Jeberes Ward. We found Bro. Sutomo (Bro. Sukro's father), and Bro. Sukro is almost our age. This dear old gentleman spent the whole afternoon walking us (in his bare feet) all over that neighborhood finding a bunch of families that we would never have found. We visited dear Sis. Renum, the mother of Agus, who we were looking for. He was at work, so she joined the party and took us to see Joko, who is active, but he gave us some needed information. Then Sutomo, Bono, Renum, Elder Greenway and I headed for Eni's, a sort of active woman who served a mission the same time Bono did. We were looking for her brother, who was asleep, so she joined us and we found the family of another girl who was not home, but her mother was at home. The mother is a member, attending another church, but the older sister is an active member in Surabaya and also served with Bono.
ARE YOU TOTALLY CONFUSED?!? We just kept writing all this information down, and then at DDM on Friday, we just handed out slips of paper with all these addresses and information to the Missionaries. It was a very fruitful week.
On the lighter side, we have been asked to do some very interesting things since we arrived. Next week, actually July 4th, we have been asked to do a 2-hour presentation for the Surakarta Stake Youth Conference. We are to include a warning against the addictions and evils of pornography. Elder Greenway is to speak in church the Sunday after that, we are to do a presentation for Zone Conference, and today the Stake President asked us if we could teach "dense". Maybe every week "dense"..., or maybe twice a month "dense"??? We kept looking at him and he kept saying "dense", which is exactly how we felt! Finally, Sister Irma came by and we asked her to interpret. They conversed a bit in Indonesian, and then she laughed and said that the Stake President would like us to teach "dense", ...however she included with that a little "dance"! Ohhhhhhh!!!!! Elder and Sister Roberts, a mission couple years ago, taught square dancing, etc. We told him we would look into it.... AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH :{ So, if any of you have any good computer site for "line dancing", "square dancing", etc., please, HELP! Next week we are making cookies with about 40 primary kids, and after that, 15 Young Women are also making cookies. THAT is a piece of cake! (or should I say cookie?)
Finally, we told you about the Sister's referral in Boyalali, about an hour away. There is no church there and the women they are teaching are happily, and earnestly accepting the Gospel. In fact, they want more copies of the Book of Mormon to give to their entire church! When the Sisters asked if the President was prepared to send Elders to Boyalali, he basically told them they needed to be realistic.
But today, Elder Greenway sat and visited with Elder Subandriyo, the Area Authority Seventy, and together, in their enthusiastic minds, they already have the building built in Boyalali. We are hoping this enthusiasm leads to expanding the area. We are hoping we will continue making weekly trips, with the missionaries in tow, to Boyalali to teach, ...then Elders will be living there, ...then the building, ...then the Temple...... The water project is nearing completion, so "the time is far spent, there is little remaining".... Time to be anxiously engaged!
We love to be part of this work! We can learn to love "densing", we will do whatever it takes to move the Church forward. We hope you are praying for the people of Indonesia! We are and we are praying that the Knorpps, the new Senior Couple coming in July, know how to "dense"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With absolute faith!
Elder and Sister Greenway
Friday, June 22, 2012
Week 40 Photos 3
Sunday night was Seminary and Institute Graduation. There were a lot of certificates and you can see the diplomas. These youth get up at 5:00 AM for school that starts at 6:30 or 7:00 AM I think. School gets out about 2:30 PM. They go home and put on dresses and white shirts and ties to return to the church for seminary at 6:00 PM.
And here's Institute, which is held weekly. Pictured also are three of the Bishops. Left, Bishop Suparno, Right Bishop Awik and Bishop Catur. On Saturday evening most of these YSAs went bowling!!!! Yeah - it looked like the Greenway Family - a lot of laughing and not a lot of "pin action."
And here's Institute, which is held weekly. Pictured also are three of the Bishops. Left, Bishop Suparno, Right Bishop Awik and Bishop Catur. On Saturday evening most of these YSAs went bowling!!!! Yeah - it looked like the Greenway Family - a lot of laughing and not a lot of "pin action."
Week 40 Photos 2
On Monday this week, Melanie and I went to Boyolali to be with UCP to assess 45 adults and children for wheelchairs. Here is Sri. She is a Medical Social Worker with UCP Indonesia. She does the intakes. What is remarkable about her is that she is a spinal cord injury confined to a wheelchair. She spent several years a home after her injury. Shew was a recipient of a wheelchair and was able to go to the US for her Masters in Social Work. She now works for UCP in her home country helping others and us (LDS Charities).
Here are a few of the kids and their parents. These are the kindest, most grateful people you could ever want to be associated with.
He just wanted to wave "Hi"
I had to include these guys. Here are Sarwani (near) and Gilan (far, with his hands up), two of the Physical Therapists who do the assessments. (Editor's note: You have to wonder why Elder Greenway has such a special affinity for Physical Therapists!)
Here are a few of the kids and their parents. These are the kindest, most grateful people you could ever want to be associated with.
He just wanted to wave "Hi"
I had to include these guys. Here are Sarwani (near) and Gilan (far, with his hands up), two of the Physical Therapists who do the assessments. (Editor's note: You have to wonder why Elder Greenway has such a special affinity for Physical Therapists!)
Monday, June 18, 2012
Week 40 Photos 1
We are coming to a close on the Ampel Water Project. I wanted to remind all of what have been the village water sources that were set up years ago. These are large concrete tanks that served as a water source, bath house, and clothes washing area.
Here is another near the center of the village. I think I sent pictures before of the villagers laying the pipe. An older woman was finishing her bath when we came down the road. What is neat is that after the pipe was laid, they then "re-paved" the street.
Here is a closer look at the village water source. They stopped filling it because water lines now go to each house.
Here is one of the new MCKs. The water is clean and clear and good for laundering clothes.
I had to take this photo. They serve as a "cuci motor" (cycle wash) as well.
Here is another near the center of the village. I think I sent pictures before of the villagers laying the pipe. An older woman was finishing her bath when we came down the road. What is neat is that after the pipe was laid, they then "re-paved" the street.
Here is a closer look at the village water source. They stopped filling it because water lines now go to each house.
Here is one of the new MCKs. The water is clean and clear and good for laundering clothes.
I had to take this photo. They serve as a "cuci motor" (cycle wash) as well.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Week 40
Happy Father's Day to all the Extraordinary Fathers who are reading this letter!
I has been a much better week than last, especially for poor Elder Greenway . So, we had a lot of catching up to do.... We took off Monday with the Sisters, and headed for Boyalali. Moko, an engineer on the water project, had been contacted by two women (interested about the Church) who are cooking for the workers on the project that do not live on the mountain. Many of these workers are members of the Church and stay in the village building at night. One woman is older, and she has a daughter who is married and has two children. They are Christian, and they have been impressed by the many members they work around.
Anyway, Moko contacted the Sisters and since we usually check on the Water Project twice monthly, we offered the ride. Well, it was a resounding successful first visit, and it looks like we will be going to the project weekly so the Sisters can teach these delightful women. Elder and I try to talk with them, and are getting so we can understand what they try to tell us, but we cannot give a discussion. Besides! The Sisters told us that every so often the ladies have a question, and Moko answers in Javanese. Well, not even the Sisters can speak Javanese!
On our way home we stopped for Javanese Fast food. Elder (still getting over his upset) had Nasi Goreng (fried rice), I had Bihun (Javanese Noodles and veggies) Sister Neis had Bak Coy (saucy, steamy veggies) Sister Blake had Spesial Paket (sort of a combo plate) and Bono had Sop Rusuk (rib soup). Fun!!! We will go again Monday.
On Wednesday we headed out to visit, but we also had piano... so the visiting was short, but successful. We are looking for less active YSAs. We went to find Dewi, a granddaughter that lives with Bro. and Sis. Marwoto. She was working at Mata Hari (the JC Penny of Indonesia), so we visited with her active grandparents. They are a pioneer couple who joined in 1977. They would love to see this grandchild active.
We will call back again and also send the Sisters to visit with her. These wonderful Sister missionaries... The Elders are assigned to a Ward, so their biking about town is generally limited to the ward where they are assigned. The Sisters, however, go wherever they are needed, which is all over Solo and beyond as paragraph 1 explained. Actually, they even come to Tuesday piano to help me. This past Tuesday I really appreciated it because I ended up with 10 students, 7 which came within the first hour. And! Joy of Joys, Kiki agreed to play one song for Sacrament meeting the end of July. She will play the opening song, Aster will play the Sacrament song (using the correct left hand...she usually makes it up as she goes along), and Ezra will play the closing!!!!!! I agreed to play the rest song if the Bishop needs one.
Thursday we had a new request. Sister Indah, Bishop Awi's wife, is the Primary President and she wants her primary teachers and leaders to learn the Primary Songs. So she asked if I would come and play for an hour from 5-6 p.m. so they can just sing. So, on Thursday we took off to find Tyas. SHE WAS HOME! We visited with her mom (active) and her married expectant sister, Anggun. Anggun is married to a Muslim fellow, but was very interested in our conversation. In fact, I felt her desire to learn more than Tyas. We have asked the Sisters to follow up Tyas and Anggun.
We then went looking for Chandra Mulyano (moved – address unknown), but found, across the alley, Arif's (a young member) father and brother at home very sick, so Elder Greenway and Bono gave them a blessing. Mulyani (the mom) was very happy to see us, and we handed out candy to all the neighbor kids. We then went looking for Adriyati, (no longer at that address). Then we were off to sing. On a side note, when we got to Solo, Elder and Sister Grover told us that we would be amazed at how long it takes to get anywhere. They don't measure distance by miles here, but by time. So the activities I just told you about took from noon until 6 p.m.
Friday we decided to take donuts to DDM! Oh how missionaries LOVE donuts. We have been hard at work going over the YSA lists with anyone who will talk to us. We have really worked to update those lists. We have typed and re-typed. So at DDM we were able to give the Missionaries updated (so far) lists. For our purpose (YSA) we eliminate the married "missing", their purpose is to help the Ward members to find them. We are also trying to find where members who have moved out of Solo have gone. Bono told us he went with Elder and Sister Roberts, (about 5 or so years ago), to find a young man and that young man had moved to Jakarta. Well, the list still has him at the same address as five years ago. We have asked for help to train these new Ward Clerks.
After DDM we found Bagus Romadhan's family (he was at work), and was able to talk to Dimas (YSA) and Riski (YM) from Sister Endang's family. We invited them to come join with the Stake for Youth Conference (July 3-5), or to come to the All Indonesian YSA Conference in August, or church, or English Classes, or activities..... We have a prayer in all their homes, and hope the Spirit will touch their hearts. If just one comes...
WELL, THAT IS JUST WHAT HAPPENED!!!! HURRAY!!!!!! Last week I told you about "Dika" who had left his mission because he was so homesick, and then the family and he were so embarrassed, so they stopped coming??? Last night we had our big Solo YSA Bowling Party, and Dika came and had so much fun, laughed and goofed around with all the others. We had about 20 attend, and Gunawan, from the Jebres ward out-bowled everyone even Elder! They were all so fun to watch. Some scored a whopping 28, while Gunawan score 168. Poor Yua, heading into frame #4 had a score of 9. It cost the Stake $1.50 per bowler. Most of them cannot afford that, so they have never been bowling. We will for sure go again. They were taking pictures, and when I say that I mean posing with bowling balls, posing on their approach, even a group picture with them laying on the floor right in front of a lane! So much fun. We were proud to be there with them.
One by one we'll work on this. We have seen some success with young people returning, we have seen some success with the active visiting their lost friends (that's what happened with Dika), we have had parents ask us for help with their older children, and we have seen the Ward members becoming involved. One by one, that's how we are all blessed. If everyone helps one by one, just imagine! I come from an extended family where many were less active. Elder Greenway comes from family where most never had the joy of knowing the Gospel. Many left this world without the blessings of the temple. Some returned later in life, some did not, and some never knew. I came from a faithful lineage that joined in far away places and left everything to make the sacrifice to gather to Zion. Elder Greenway's parents were so faithful and served two missions. How could we ever face any of them if we didn't help each other? "For of him unto whom much is given much is required;" D&C 82:3.
We are absolutely sure we have been given much...
Let's look after each other, one by one...
Elder and Sister Greenway
I has been a much better week than last, especially for poor Elder Greenway . So, we had a lot of catching up to do.... We took off Monday with the Sisters, and headed for Boyalali. Moko, an engineer on the water project, had been contacted by two women (interested about the Church) who are cooking for the workers on the project that do not live on the mountain. Many of these workers are members of the Church and stay in the village building at night. One woman is older, and she has a daughter who is married and has two children. They are Christian, and they have been impressed by the many members they work around.
Anyway, Moko contacted the Sisters and since we usually check on the Water Project twice monthly, we offered the ride. Well, it was a resounding successful first visit, and it looks like we will be going to the project weekly so the Sisters can teach these delightful women. Elder and I try to talk with them, and are getting so we can understand what they try to tell us, but we cannot give a discussion. Besides! The Sisters told us that every so often the ladies have a question, and Moko answers in Javanese. Well, not even the Sisters can speak Javanese!
On our way home we stopped for Javanese Fast food. Elder (still getting over his upset) had Nasi Goreng (fried rice), I had Bihun (Javanese Noodles and veggies) Sister Neis had Bak Coy (saucy, steamy veggies) Sister Blake had Spesial Paket (sort of a combo plate) and Bono had Sop Rusuk (rib soup). Fun!!! We will go again Monday.
On Wednesday we headed out to visit, but we also had piano... so the visiting was short, but successful. We are looking for less active YSAs. We went to find Dewi, a granddaughter that lives with Bro. and Sis. Marwoto. She was working at Mata Hari (the JC Penny of Indonesia), so we visited with her active grandparents. They are a pioneer couple who joined in 1977. They would love to see this grandchild active.
We will call back again and also send the Sisters to visit with her. These wonderful Sister missionaries... The Elders are assigned to a Ward, so their biking about town is generally limited to the ward where they are assigned. The Sisters, however, go wherever they are needed, which is all over Solo and beyond as paragraph 1 explained. Actually, they even come to Tuesday piano to help me. This past Tuesday I really appreciated it because I ended up with 10 students, 7 which came within the first hour. And! Joy of Joys, Kiki agreed to play one song for Sacrament meeting the end of July. She will play the opening song, Aster will play the Sacrament song (using the correct left hand...she usually makes it up as she goes along), and Ezra will play the closing!!!!!! I agreed to play the rest song if the Bishop needs one.
Thursday we had a new request. Sister Indah, Bishop Awi's wife, is the Primary President and she wants her primary teachers and leaders to learn the Primary Songs. So she asked if I would come and play for an hour from 5-6 p.m. so they can just sing. So, on Thursday we took off to find Tyas. SHE WAS HOME! We visited with her mom (active) and her married expectant sister, Anggun. Anggun is married to a Muslim fellow, but was very interested in our conversation. In fact, I felt her desire to learn more than Tyas. We have asked the Sisters to follow up Tyas and Anggun.
We then went looking for Chandra Mulyano (moved – address unknown), but found, across the alley, Arif's (a young member) father and brother at home very sick, so Elder Greenway and Bono gave them a blessing. Mulyani (the mom) was very happy to see us, and we handed out candy to all the neighbor kids. We then went looking for Adriyati, (no longer at that address). Then we were off to sing. On a side note, when we got to Solo, Elder and Sister Grover told us that we would be amazed at how long it takes to get anywhere. They don't measure distance by miles here, but by time. So the activities I just told you about took from noon until 6 p.m.
Friday we decided to take donuts to DDM! Oh how missionaries LOVE donuts. We have been hard at work going over the YSA lists with anyone who will talk to us. We have really worked to update those lists. We have typed and re-typed. So at DDM we were able to give the Missionaries updated (so far) lists. For our purpose (YSA) we eliminate the married "missing", their purpose is to help the Ward members to find them. We are also trying to find where members who have moved out of Solo have gone. Bono told us he went with Elder and Sister Roberts, (about 5 or so years ago), to find a young man and that young man had moved to Jakarta. Well, the list still has him at the same address as five years ago. We have asked for help to train these new Ward Clerks.
After DDM we found Bagus Romadhan's family (he was at work), and was able to talk to Dimas (YSA) and Riski (YM) from Sister Endang's family. We invited them to come join with the Stake for Youth Conference (July 3-5), or to come to the All Indonesian YSA Conference in August, or church, or English Classes, or activities..... We have a prayer in all their homes, and hope the Spirit will touch their hearts. If just one comes...
WELL, THAT IS JUST WHAT HAPPENED!!!! HURRAY!!!!!! Last week I told you about "Dika" who had left his mission because he was so homesick, and then the family and he were so embarrassed, so they stopped coming??? Last night we had our big Solo YSA Bowling Party, and Dika came and had so much fun, laughed and goofed around with all the others. We had about 20 attend, and Gunawan, from the Jebres ward out-bowled everyone even Elder! They were all so fun to watch. Some scored a whopping 28, while Gunawan score 168. Poor Yua, heading into frame #4 had a score of 9. It cost the Stake $1.50 per bowler. Most of them cannot afford that, so they have never been bowling. We will for sure go again. They were taking pictures, and when I say that I mean posing with bowling balls, posing on their approach, even a group picture with them laying on the floor right in front of a lane! So much fun. We were proud to be there with them.
One by one we'll work on this. We have seen some success with young people returning, we have seen some success with the active visiting their lost friends (that's what happened with Dika), we have had parents ask us for help with their older children, and we have seen the Ward members becoming involved. One by one, that's how we are all blessed. If everyone helps one by one, just imagine! I come from an extended family where many were less active. Elder Greenway comes from family where most never had the joy of knowing the Gospel. Many left this world without the blessings of the temple. Some returned later in life, some did not, and some never knew. I came from a faithful lineage that joined in far away places and left everything to make the sacrifice to gather to Zion. Elder Greenway's parents were so faithful and served two missions. How could we ever face any of them if we didn't help each other? "For of him unto whom much is given much is required;" D&C 82:3.
We are absolutely sure we have been given much...
Let's look after each other, one by one...
Elder and Sister Greenway
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