Minggu 18

Monday we walked down to the street, by our apartment, that has all of the toko's (stores) with fabric.  We found some white fabric so we can get some white pants made for Elder, so he doesn't have to borrow them for baptisms.  We then stopped for lunch at a resturant next to the apartment complex.  It was a bit pricey.  About 8 american dollars total.  Our views on what is expensive have sure changed.  Shortly after we got home the President Donald (the mission president) called to ask if we had heard that the volcano had erupted again on Sunday and that they had evacuated more people to evacuation sites.  There are now at least 33 sites for evacuees and over 20,000 people displaced.  There was lava that had come out this time.  He wanted us to research and find where we could go to offer our help with supplies and such.  We spent the afternoon doing research on the computers and then sending information that we found to our Mission Welfare/Humanitarian Missionaries.  That evening we remembered that the PMI(Red Cross Indonesia) office is just down the street from us.  We called the Elders and asked them if they could come over in the morning and go with us to the PMI office to interpret.  They said yes.

This is a picture of the lava flowing from the volcano.  Elder found it on the news.

Tuesday morning we went to the PMI office with the Elders and met with two of the directors.  They really didn't know what was needed at that time but they were heading up there that afternoon to see how they could help.  We exchanged contact information and they gave us each a hat and a key chain.  We then went to the church and the Sisters met us there and we went to visit an inactive sister (early 20's) who had been very active until about a year ago when she had to start working on Sundays and when that stopped she had gotten out of the habit of going to church.  She had been avoiding to Sisters to this point.  She actually kept her appointment and it was great.  She still has a testimony but is nervous about coming back.  She promised us she would come on Sunday. 
Wednesday we met with our language coach and then spent the afternoon at the church.  The sisters went with us to the tailors so Elder Tucker could have his pants made.  We then went with the Sisters to visit a member who joined the Church in Malaysia.  We found out she has only been back while she is waiting for a new work permit to go back to Malaysia.  There are more and better jobs there.  So she will be leaving in a few weeks.
Thursday we picked the Sisters up and went to visit Sister Desni. I mentioned her in my last post. First we stopped and picked up Sister Ezra so she could go with us.  We found her at home and we had a good visit.  We looked at lots of photos of members from years earlier.  We also showed her the John Tanner story video on my computer.  She said she has made a New Years resolution to start coming back to church.  We hope so.  We stopped at the store to get a few things to tide us over until we leave for Jakarta on Tuesday.
Friday we had District meeting and then ate lunch at the church.  Elder Tucker and the Elders went to visit PMI and see if they had gotten any information since we hadn't heard from them yet.  They actually came back with a list of every evacuation site and the heads of households and number of children and infants and pregnant women and a list of their needs.  It was very complete.  We sent it on to the Humanitarian Missionary couple and they were going to send it to Hong Kong for their approval.  When we take the supplies we donate to the PMI they will mark all of it from the Church and will also put a church decal on their ambulances.  We are just waiting to hear  back.  We then went with the Elders to an appointment in the Jungle.  It is where we have to park and walk about 15 minutes into the jungle.  I posted a picture a few months ago when we last went with them.  Jesse is a 16 yr old who wants to join the church but his parents won't let him.  His older brother and sister are both members.  Well, Jesse wasn't home so we had to turn around and walk back out.
Saturday we went to the church and the guy who cuts the grass came.  It was quite interesting watching him.  He is very fast.  We also did a few things and then taught English.  We started with 3 students about 15 minutes late and by the end we had 7.  Indonesians are not known for being on time.  One of the students is Sister Hasibuan, one of our Missionaries.  She is supposed to be learning English also.  When we get together we try and speak, her in English and me in Indonesian.  Sometimes it works.  We both use our Electronic dictionaries alot.  We made sure the font was full as we have a baptism tomorrow.

Sunday the Branch President was gone so Elder Tucker had his first time conducting a meeting.  He did very well.  He has been practicing for weeks.  Also, the two people who were challenged to come back to church came.  We were so excited.
 TOYO AND RONI WERE FINALLY BAPTIZED!!!  After church we had our baptism.  Elder was the one who baptized them.  President Rico was supposed to baptize one of them but he had a work training.  These boys are great.  They are destined for great things.  The advisary has been working over time to keep them from getting baptized.  Their original date for baptism was Dec. 15.  Then an Aunt passed away and it would have been disrespectful to have a party then.  Then their Grandmother gets really sick and they have to go to Jakarta to be with her for a few weeks.  They got back this week.  Today we got to Church and the water in the font had dropped about 6 inches so we had to add more water quickly before church started and then about a half hour before church is to start the power goes out.  Elder Tucker quickly gets out the generator so we have power.  I goes back on about 10 minutes before the meeting is to start.  Their Mom (who is very supportive and wants them to get baptized) even came to church and was there for all of the meetings.  We always do baptisms right after church so there are alot of people there.  Some can't afford to travel to church more than once a week.  After the baptism Toyo and Roni's mom had a celebration for them.  It was mostly a meal and visiting.  When most of the people had left but those of us from church and some family we did a short Family Home Evening (Malam Keluarga).  It was great and the seminary teacher was there and at least 5 of the youth, all the missionaries and the Elders Quorum President.  It was a long but great day.  We also had some ash from the volcano yesterday and today on cars that we drove by.  The wind must have changed as it was blowing the other way before.  It continues to to have small eruptions.

 Elder Tucker with Roni and Toyo and their mother, Ibu Mary

 At Toyo and Roni's house for the party.  These are mostly members of the branch, missionaries and the boys family.

This is Agus, we told you about him in an earlier post.  It was his mother who past away and we went to the funeral.  He is preparing his mission papers and they should be sent in soon.  Today he told us that we are his step father and mother.  We like to think of it more as an adoptive son.  He is a very special person and has a strong testimony that he shares.  We are so lucky to have many wonderful youth, in this branch, who have been through much in their short lives.  We love them all.  As we love you all, also.