To start with, an experience we have been having with a young lady in the Branch.
In many of the things we do here we see the hand of the Lord in the lives of his children. As an example Mei for the past year has been trying to complete her mission papers and then having to struggle with health problems, having Hepatitis C, and associated complications, she and Elder have had several conversations about her willingness to serve and the effect it would have on her family. She would often say that she wanted her whole family to be together and come to church. Elder explained that her service would greatly bless her family and that we believed it so strongly that Elder told her that her willingness to serve would cause her family to return to the church. When he did that he did not realize how quickly God would fulfill that promise. The last thing we needed to complete was to get her blood type information to the Dr. in Hong Kong, so her papers could be forwarded to Salt Lake, and we accomplished that in time so her application could be reviewed a week ago Thursday, and last Sunday was the first time in many years her entire family, brothers, sister, and parents were in Sacrament meeting together.
In sharing things like the above story, because we believe in part that this is our testimony, God always fulfills his promises to his children, we need to exercise faith in our God and live is such a manner that he can bless our lives. We hope the example of being willing to do the things we are asked to do by Gods servants, and to voluntarily act in a manner that our actions will bless the lives of those around us. Partly it comes down to, how do we expect our children to do something that we are not willing to do, our hope is that each of our grandsons will fulfill their priesthood obligation and live worthy to serve, and serve a mission as a young man, and that any of our granddaughters who have a desire to serve may also do so (because we have seen here how much good young women can do in the mission field, and the good the service does for them). Further, we would encourage our children and their spouses to set the goal to serve together after their families are grown. We have met with and taught many people, many who have almost nothing when it comes to the things of this world, almost all are already Christian, but they are willing to learn more and some willing to investigate the possibility of God doing a work in our time.
On Monday morning we visited with Benjamin and kids on Skype. After finishing our visit with Benjamin and family, we got Dani and her family on Skype. I had received an email asking us to call this morning, so we did. We learned what we kind of expected to learn, they have two more little girls in their home, two and four year old sisters, which when everything gets finalized that will give them 6 children (three boys & three girls). I guessed it was two because a couple of weeks ago Steven said that they were looking for a larger vehicle, Elder just guessed it was for them to be able to make an addition to the family. So in about 2 years or so they have gone from it being just the two of them, to having 8 in their family, we enjoyed being able to meet and visit with all of the Arter family. We caught a taxi to go get some photos for Sari, so she could request a certificate from the police, regarding her clean record, so she can get her VISA for New Zealand and Australia, we then dropped them off at Brother Rico's dental office where she is currently working as a nanny, then headed for home. Once Elder got emails from Yosep with passport information, and from the Manila temple regarding patron housing, we spent the afternoon, coordinating a trip to the temple, and getting airline tickets purchased. Well it looks like we have everything in place to go to Manila the first part of June, it also looks like we have decided not to go to Australia and New Zealand before we head for home, Pres. Donald can't let us go before the 13th of July, and I am more interested in getting home than I am in going there after the 13th.
On Tuesday Elder spent much of the afternoon visiting with a gentleman named Juni, at the Church. He had made contact with the Elders this past Friday. His English was pretty good so much of their conversation was in English, while he was interested in learning about the church, Elder is not convinced it is a lot more that curiosity. We checked on Sari's progress with the police department on getting her Non-Criminal Certificate. She got there at 7 am and spent about 6 hours there to be told that they also want a copy of her passport before they will process her request. We have been told it could take them 7 days to process her request.
We had District meeting on Wednesday this week because Elder Kyle had been in Jakarta at Mission Leadership council. We got more English and Music books copied. Sari was able to get her Non-Criminal Certificate completely processed today so we were able to get both the letter of Justification and Non-Criminal Certificate to Senopati for submittal to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.
On Thursday Elder sent an email to Pres. Donald so he could help Sujud in working with the Australian & New Zealand Embassies to get the VISAs processed. There is a member who works in the New Zealand Embassy (and has been able to help in the past) and Pres Donald still has some connections in the Australian Embassy, as he worked as the head of security there several years back. In the afternoon we went out visiting with Sisters Hasibuan and Mintono, they wanted to see the Mendrofas, Fenny, Ruf and Fransisca. Unfortunately they were unable to get any confirmations from the individuals before we tried to visit. So the only one we were able to successfully visit with was the Mendrofas, and that was only Brother Mendrofa, his wife and 2 sons were off working. But it gave us an opportunity to visit with him and encourage him to make an effort to attend Sacrament meeting as often as his health will allow. Neither Fenny or Ruf were home. We then drove to the south side of town to try and see Sister Fransisca, she was home but had a couple of ladies there visiting with her, as she was running the fruit stand she operates. So she didn't want to take the time to visit today. Unfortunately they do sometimes struggle to get people to respond to them. Here alot of times their phones are turned off or they change numbers quite often.
On Friday the elders used the computer so they could update the information online for their facebook site. They were finally able to get the information from their account so they could use it for the establishment of the new site, which will more completely comply with facebook rules, of ownership. In the afternoon we went with Elders Kyle and Hendro to conduct the interviews with Bro. & Sister Telambanua at their home, so he does not have to miss too much time away from his work. We met in the one room of the house they rent, and visited all together for about an hour, then it was time to do the interviews, Elder was already dripping wet because of the heat, I wasn't so dry either, but I was able to go outside while conducted the Interviews, and then to throw in his conducting the interviews in Indonesian, made it feel even warmer. Well they both are planning to be baptized on Sunday afternoon. After we finished there we thought we would go visit with Hendrik Simanjuntak. We offered Bro. Manalu as a resource to help put his motor cycle back on the road, but he said he has gotten it running, and just needs to work on it some more to control the oil leaks. So we were unable to assist him on that. On our way to Bro. Simanjuntak's house we had brother Manalu take us to where we could buy bananas as I had been asked to make banana bread tomorrow at church for the Young Adults and Mei wanted to learn because she says she really likes the Banana cake, as she calls it.
The Pasar It is on both sides of the street - if you could call it that.
The bananas here can be very tiny. Not much bigger than a finger
Saturday we went to the church early because the Young Adults were watching a movie (The Other Side of Heaven, with subtitles) for an activity, and I was asked if I would make Banana Nut Bread, in the new oven the church has. So we got there a little after 10 am. I joined them in watching the movie and Elder visited with some of those at the building who were not watching the movie, and tried to get people signed up for the family history workshop that we will be having here next weekend. Pres. Yosep and Elder were visiting in his office (while I was getting the English class going), and Novita wanted to know if Elder could take some time to visit with her. So he suggested she come in and visit with both of them, hoping to shift the conversation to be between her and the Branch President. Well we spent more than an hour discussing the opportunity that has opened up for her. She can still take the job she has been offered in Solo, or she can take a test to see if she can fill a position that requires working outside of Indonesia for a 10 year period of time. It would be a wonderful opportunity to gain experience, and significantly more money, but the locations are not for sure, and she has a lot of concerns about the unknowns involved in the offer. All of her friends and her father are telling her it's a good opportunity and that she should take it. As we visited she kept explaining why she didn't want to do it, but was having a hard time making the decision because everyone is telling her she should go. After having talked about the pros and cons for a long time, we kept telling her that she is still the one that needed to make her decision, not her friends, father, or us. Elder did eventually get the conversation to be between her and Pres. Yosep. But near the end she turned to me and asked "if you had this opportunity, would you do it"? Elder said he explained that based on everything she had to share, and all of the unknowns involved, that he would likely pick the opportunity to move to a place most comfortable (within same country), where it was known that the church is available, opportunities to find a spouse, etc, which means he would select Solo. When it came down it she was looking for someone to say, that it was okay to say no to the offer, and accept something that she thought would make her happy. So at the end of the evening she said she had decided to stay with the job in Solo, feeling much relief at having made a decision. She had to send an email to answering the request by 8 pm that night. Now this is a 25 year old sister who is a convert of about 4 or 5 years, who has been using PEF for the past 4 years of schooling, and was struggling with her testimony for several months 4 months or so ago. We have been helping and giving encouragement for the past year or so as opportunities have presented themselves, and to see the changes that have come into her life, and the great blessings she has been receiving has been a wonderful and faith promoting experience. At the end of English I encouraged everyone to come next week and spend time learning about Family history and putting names in the computer.
Mei's family was all at church again this week except her sister who was at a music competition for the weekend an hadn't gotten home yet. Primary went quite well. If it continues like today it will function quite well. Our teacher wasn't there but because of the others there they were all able to work together and fill in. Our Primary is small enough that we have one teacher and the nursery kids kind of wander in and out of the room. It is easy because there really isn't a door that will shut and stay shut. Primary only gets the two rooms as we meet in a large converted house. I think it was definitely inspired to call Sister Susana and Chaterine to the Primary Presidency. It is the right time for them to be able to and willing to function.
We had a two baptisms after church today. Such a wonderful couple. We have been able to meet with them with the Elders about once a week for the last month or so. So nice and humble. Sister Talambanua reads the book of Mormon most nights and that is saying something since the house they rent a room in does not have electricity. She had been trying to read with a candle or flashlight but didn't work well. We had access to an LED light that is used when the power goes out and so we are letting them use it. You can tell they are reading and wanting to learn because they always have such good thought out questions. It is so inspiring to see people who are so thirsty for the knowledge we can help them find. They have a 10 month old boy and are expecting another baby in about 5 months. Elder Kyle baptized Bro. Talambanua and Elder Tucker was asked to baptize Sister. We have been seeing the blessings of the work the missionaries have been doing as they are starting to find and baptize families. It will make such a difference to the Branch as long as they step up and embrace the new members.
We had our Temple Prep class at our apartment in the early evening and then the missionaries came over for dinner to celebrate Elder Kyles birthday. Mei and Sari stayed for dinner. We had a great time. I think Sari is feeling a little better about going to Australia. Not quite so terrified. Ronald has spent a little bit of time working with her on her English and we all speak English with her when we can. She does pretty good. Mei is just waiting for her call. She says she would love the experience of leaving her country. Her English is really very good already. We will see since they really need Sister missionaries here right now.
Elder Hendro, Bro. and Sister Talambanua, Elder Kyle and Elder Tucker
Sari, Sister Hasibuan, Elder Wills, Elder Hendro, Myself, Sister Mintono and Elder Kyle in the back reporting their weekly stats.
After dinner and dessert. Elder Martoyo(Surabaya), Sister E. Hasibuan(Jakarta, and goes home May 13th), Elder, Elder Kyle(Georgia, and he goes home May 13th also), Elder Wills(Cottonwood, AZ), Sari Sinaga( going to Australia Perth Mission June 4th), Elder Hendro(Jakarta), Sister Mintono(Solo) and Mei Nainggolan(papers in waiting for mission call) It is a great group.
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