24 guitars and accessories – good thing they were not cellos. William is going to hate me for this, but it had to be shared. This is what happens when you leave your young son in the care of his older sister.

24 October 2007 – Wednesday

I read from PMG before going down to exercise. The morning continue normally – we only read 2 pages from Kitab Mormon before we have to leave for class (I started to write school!) The traffic is almost back to normal. I did get a couple of good motorcycle pictures this morning. The 24 guitars moves up into my top 10 loads.

Classes went well today. We split them for most of the morning class and then we had them together for the afternoon ones. I spent much of my time creating review tests, fractured sentences, and putting vocabulary sections together. I think my more advanced group is doing well.

Today I caught them all nodding that they understood a concept I was teaching them. I then asked them to create some sentences using what I had been teaching and none of them could. I explained to them that it was OK not to understand but it was not OK to act like they did. I mentioned that our purpose was to help them and that we could not do that if they did not tell us when they were lost. I mentioned that I could understand what they are going through because I have been struggling with Indonesian for about a year. They know English much better than I know Indonesian. Anyway I think I got my point across and hopefully in the future they will ask questions instead of nodding their head.

I also spent some time answer email from another couple and from a Korean brother who is looking for a sales representative here in Indonesia. It looks like a good opportunity but it calls for a rather specific talent and I am not sure we have any member that fits the profile. I will know more when I meet him in a week or so.

Mary left early so she could be home when the cleaning woman came. I stayed and finished up the class. When it was over I caught a taxi home. It turned out that the cleaning lady did not come so Mary had time to correct some tests that she gave on Tuesday to the mission office staff. Some of them did well but some of them need lots of help.

We read from the Kitab Mormon – we are in Ether just as the wars are starting. I really enjoy the first part of Ether, but I must confess I find very little spiritual food in the last 2/3. I guess I need to repent and find what is special enough about that part to make it worth preserving it for future generations.

After that we had hot dogs and chili dogs for dinner – real Oscar Meyers hot dogs with Hormel Chili. It reminded me of home. I spent most of the rest of the evening working on pictures and this journal. I am going to read from PMG before heading off to bed.

Following the counsel of president Eyring I  look back over the day to see where the Lord has touched my life. First there is my health – something I hardly ever thank the Lord for. Only bad health seems to catch my attention. But how blessed we have been on this mission as far as health is concerned.

Then there is the blessing of working with these six fine young people. Each so different and yet all untied by the gospel. I am touched that the Lord has entrusted them and their lives to us for a month. What a great responsibility and blessing. Hopefully I will be able to help them in some small way that will help them live a better life and be better leaders in the church here in Indonesia.

These are just two of the blessings. As I took the time to think about this, I could feel the spirit testifying to me of the value of president Eyring’s thoughts. So another tender mercy that the Lord gives me is the inspired leadership of men called of God in these latter-days.