Daily Archives: December 4, 2007

03 December 2007

03 December 2007 – Monday

I woke up way too early and studied Indonesian until it was time to go to the gym. I stepped on the scales for the first time in almost a week and was surprised to see that I had not gained any weight after pigging out at the buffet twice a day. I guess all that worrying and Fast Sunday countered the food intake. It was great to be back in the gym and have a full workout.

The rest of the morning went as usual with our reading the Kitab Mormon and me trying to figure out why the darn computer will allow me to see our blog and even post a few sentences but not a full day of this journal or a single picture. Wednesday I will get Giganet over to see if they can figure it out. We listened to the 1st Presidency’s Christmas Special on the computer and I recorded it for future hearing.

We went to the office where I spent almost all my time writing e-mails to Hong Kong about reports and to PH leaders about the new program. Mary was busy posting reports, gathering more English ideas, and practicing the piano. Ezra Subandriyo did not come in for his lesson. He had to go finish up his visa so he can head to BYUH on the 26th. Sam made out his report for November including the trip to Solo. It turned out to be less than I originally thought it would be. Mary pointed out that it would have been hard to run our pilot program if we had not sent all the goodies with Sam.

Elder Subandriyo called and wanted to know about the last day of the pilot. I told him that I had just sent him a full report and some ideas about how we could use the program to help the youth learn about career choices, writing resumes, the importance of goals, and lots more. Also gospel themes can be used to re-enforce Seminary and other church meetings. I am very excited about the whole idea of building a curriculum that not only teaches English but educates the students to better prepare for life.

These ideas came about because President Mak of the Jakarta District asked us to come up with a series of programs or firesides to help prepare the youth better for a successful job or business future. I was wondering how to do this when the English program was given to us. I am thankful that we are having this opportunity to make a real contribution to the future of the church in Indonesia. Hopefully years from now the first student will graduate after three years in the program well prepared to be a success both physically and spiritually. All we can possibly do in the time we have left is to plow some ground and plant some seeds. If we are lucky we will see a few blades break through the soil before we move on.

We got a note from Anni – one of the Indonesian students at BYUH – that she has been contacted about being a Marriott intern next summer and will have a phone interview later today. Hopefully she does well and will be given an internship. Then when she graduates in 2009 she has a good chance of being offered a job in Marriott here in Indonesia.

After our office hours, Mary talked me into visiting a huge crafts mall in search of some more Christmas gifts for the grandchildren. It is a football size – or bigger – floor of a mall that is just crammed with Indonesian crafts. Most of them are just inexpensive trade goods that are over-priced – for instance a backscratcher that I bought for 50 cents last week in Solo was priced $2.50. But we do some bargaining and buy a few things.

Back at our apartment we pretty much collapse. We seem to be still recovering from the last week. It also did not help that I had been awake since 3:30 a.m. I do manage to do some studying but my heart was not in it. Finally I am able to take a short nap before dinner. After dinner I spent too much time on the computer writing. and reading.

It started raining about 6:00 and continued to rain, sometimes very hard, for the rest of the evening. When I went to bed there was so much lightening flashing that it almost was like there was a flashing neon sign outside our window.



motorcycle-load-casual-lady-1-november-2007.jpgbicycle-load-colorful-kid-toys-solo-nov-2007.JPGmotorcycle-load-who-is-that-bulai-good-nov-2007.jpg

One of the things that rather amazes us is how elegantly dressed women ride sidesaddle, with their shoes hanging from their toes, and not holding on to anything. The second picture is not a motorcycle but a bicycle load of bright toys for kids.  The last one shows a young man looking back at us – I can imagine him asking his dad ‘Who is that Bulai.’