On Monday Elder Tucker made an early morning trip to the airport to take Elder Hendro. He was returning to Jakarta. In the early afternoon we picked up Sari and Sister Sinaga and Elder Kyle so we could go to Columbia Asia to get Sari's vaccinations in process. When I had asked for the price on the various shots she needed earlier they told me Rp1,100,000 for all the shots. Sari went a couple of weeks ago but only got the Tetanus (Tdap) and MMR because they wanted to do a blood test before they would do the Hepatitis shots, and she didn't have the Rp700,000 that they wanted. So our goal was to see what we needed to do to get the ball rolling today. So we got her registered, visited with the doctor, and yes, he wanted a blood test before giving the Hep shot, because he wanted to know what strength/type he needed to do. So off to the lab we went and she got the test and then we waited for the next three and a half hours for the results and then went back to see about getting some of the shots. So we will be able to take her back in a month so she can get the second in the series, and finish up everything she can do before she leaves. She will have to get the final Hep shot after she is in Australia.
On Tuesday we went took Elder Kyle to the airport to pick up Elder Kekulthota (at least we are not the only ones who struggle pronouncing his name, everyone else does also). After getting him picked up, we headed for home, and stopped at the photocopy shop to pick up a family history book we had copied, and to drop off the keyboard class book for Yolana Sinaga. She had a couple of different people ask me if she could start lessons, that tells you just about how shy Yolana is. We dropped off the Elders at their house and headed for home and called it a day.
Elder Kekulthota and Elder Kyle
On Wednesday we cooked breakfast for the missionaries . They arrived and we had breakfast, and then started District Meeting. In the afternoon we went to do our shopping for the coming week or so. We headed for home and spent the evening doing some reading and computer work.
On Thursday we spent some time at the church and Elder spent some time with Pres. Yosep.
We found out this morning that we are expected to take our BBQ to the church, so they can use it for an activity, We got a text from the Elders asking us to bring our "gutter" that you use to cook sate. It took us a few minutes to figure out that what they wanted was for us to bring our BBQ. The Youth and Young adults were there for an activity with lots of cooking. They used the BBQ to grill some fish and chicken. They also made a cake but I had to show them how to use the electric stove and oven. They usually use a box on their gas burner like a reflector oven but sits on a gas burner. The church now requires all buildings to have electric appliances and not propane tanks. We also watched 17 miracles with subtiles for them to read. They loved it and had been told before that I had had ancestors who were in those companies, so they asked which ones are yours. I had to explain that none of the ones they talked about were mine but they were there also. Elder spent some time with Vince, Pres Yosep and Mei talking about the things Vince needs to do in order to get his passport. It looks like he will have to wait until he has his High School Certificate, or have both of his parents go with him to immigration in order to get the process started. His parents live on the Island of Nias. He will have to wait for the High School Cerificate. So he will be able to process his mission application, and then process his passport in August after he gets his certificate from high school. It really is nice to have the Branch President attend activities at the building and take the time to visit with and get to know each of the members and others who are there. Just this week he has been there on 3 different occasions, what a welcome change.
Fish grilling on our grill. Elder Tucker had to show them how to use it and charcoal
Eating lunch
Making the cake
Putting it in the pan
The finished product. Beautiful and it tasted great also. They had me cut it.
We got to church and spent some time cleaning, as it is the Elders week to clean the building, Sara came about 1, thinking it was the week for the leadership of all organizations to clean, so of course Elder didn't turn her away, when Sara started cleaning, Bro Manalu asked if there was anything he could do, so he put him to work also. Unfortunately no others showed up to clean the building today. Bro. Pardede is getting a little better with our BLM meeting each week, now we just need to get him together with the Branch President occasionally. Following our BML meeting we had English class, there were about 10 when we started, and by the time we finished 18 to 20. I made up pretend menus and we practiced ordering from them using their English. We then had chocolate cookies I made. The young missionaries and a goon number from English and others headed off to the indoor futsal (soccer) field for sports tonight. We headed home and had dinner in the restaurant they opened as part of the "Condotel" they are operating here now.
Sister Susana and Chaterine are doing pretty well understanding the program as far as how primary is supposed to function. Everyone stays together so we have all ages to teach which makes it hard but they do the lesson and then have them color or something having to do with the lesson and then Sharing time and music time. I am finally feeling like it will continue to function as in the handbook when I leave. Samuel, one of my keyboard students was asked to play for church. We picked 3 easier songs and he practiced all week. I told him it was ok if he got flustered and had to only us his right hand to play. He did pretty good considering only about 3 months of lessons. Another is playing in a few weeks and then one next month. I am proud of them for being willing to at least try. I am scared to myself but may try once before we leave. I did 3 keyboard lessons and we had Branch Council after church. There was lots of finance stuff to take care of so we didn't get home until about 4:30. Luckily, Mei and Sari asked to cancel temple prep class for the night.
I was thinking the other day just how much it feels like we belong with this branch and how I will miss all of these wonderful people. We have seem so many grow in the gospel and take on more responsibility. The youth and YSA have matured and moved from high school to college, to serving missions. They are family. I love them and will miss them terribly when we leave but I also miss my family and want to be with them again. It reminds me of this life. We love it here on earth with our earthly families and everything but we miss our family that is in heaven and want to be with them again. Although our Earthly families can be with us in heaven, also.
Selling fruits and vegetables on the side of the road.
On the car ferry over to the Island
Us and the Lewis' checking in at the Samosir Villas
Batak traditional dancers. Sister Lewis and I got to go up and dance with them. We love to learn about the culture since most of the people we work with are Batak.
One of the Pools at the resort
Samosir Villas Resort right on the lake
Us at the Samosir Villas resort on Samosir Island
The cloth on the head is worn by many to keep the sun off and to make it easier to carry things of their heads.
Weaving loom used to make Ulos
Ulos made on a loom like above
Sister Lewis and I with some of the youth and YSA and Hinckley our Branch Presidents son.
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