(L-R) Elders Laki and Prause – they are the missionaries serving Tangerang 2 at this time. The motorcycle picture shows what happens when you are wearing a rain poncho and going fast. It looked like he should be lifting off. This is our good friend Hani who was in our third IEC and hopefully will find that BYUH is for him.

04 May 2008 – Sunday

After being awake for a few hours in the middle of the night, I slept until 6:15 and had to rather hurry to get ready to go to Tangerang this morning. Since we were taking a cab and we were not sure that we would get one who we could communicate with, we decided to leave a little early.

It turned out that the Lord truly blessed us with a taxi driver who spoke excellent English and was more than happy to take the toll roads – the only way we knew how get to Tangerang. We had plenty of time to talk to him. We found that he had only been driving taxi for two months but that he had driven before. As we talked I was inspired to ask if he would be interested in becoming a driver for a couple. He said he was definitely interested. So he gave us his name and phone number so that I could have brother Page call him if he decided he did need a driver.

We also were able to discuss why were in Indonesia and gave him a pass along card and then a Kitab Mormon. It seemed to me that the Lord had placed us together. The chances of this particular driver being the next one up when it was our turn for a taxi is very slim. If he had been one taxi earlier or one later we would have never met. Hopefully Andi will get a job with the Pages and he and his family will be able to receive the gospel. The Pages will be good examples for him.

When we arrived at Tangerang, Mary mentioned to him that we would be needing a taxi at 1:00 and if he wanted to be at the chapel at that time we would love to have him take us back. He said he would be there.

We were so early that the chapel was not open and there was one other couple there. Interestingly enough they had seen us at Jakarta Raya just the week before when I spoke. They were visiting from Solo. Luckily the Elders arrived soon after that – earlier than they usually come which was another tender mercy. They opened the chapel and we spent the next 25 minutes meeting and greeting the members of T2 as they arrived. Most of them – including the branch presidency – did not get there until about 10 minutes before the meeting started so it was a good thing the missionaries came. When the branch mission leader – Ari Lopes – arrived and met the couple who was visiting from Solo he found that when he was on his mission he had baptized the sister. They both rejoiced in their meeting.

Since the usual pianist did not get there before the meeting started they asked Mary to play for Sacrament meeting. The Lord has really used her talent. When it came time for bearing testimony there no one came to the stand and I felt the need to bear my testimony. So I gave it in English while President Gjarot translated. As I sat down I felt that I should have trusted the Lord and tried to bear it in Indonesian. I will get another chance when we speak in both Tangerang sacrament meetings on the fourth Sunday – just a week before we head home.

After T2’s sacrament meeting we waited downstairs and met the T1 members as they arrived. Elder Herman and Elder Djarkodi were expecting an investigator family who are from the Philippines to come and was very disappointed when the meeting started without them. Mary as usual played for T1’s sacrament meeting.

Elder Herman translated for us and was very happy when the family walked in late. The husband – brother Bautista – speaks Indonesian so he could translate for his wife who speaks English but not Indonesian. Elder Herman taught the missionary discussion on the Principles of the Gospel instead of a regular lesson from the manual. I added a few points and bore my testimony of the truth of the gospel while sharing some of my experiences as an investigator. After the class I talked to brother Bautista about his business and found that it employees 35,000 Indonesians with lots of starting jobs for those without any skills. That and others things about the company makes me think that it may be a great opportunity for members of the Church.

Just before church ended it started pouring down rain so we were very glad that our new friend Andi was waiting for us and we did not have to go looking for a taxi. We had a good discussion about different things. I found that he has to work two 20 hours day and then gets one off. So he basically lives in his taxi for two days at a time. He earns about $15 a day – under $1 an hour. But that is a good income for a person who does not have some special education or skill.

I also got a response from President Paul about a nanny for the Pages, so I called brother Page and gave him the contact numbers for that sister and Andi as a driver. Now I need to find a cook-housekeeper for them. But at least I am able to offer some jobs for those who are looking for them.

I had a number of small things that needed doing that seemed to eat up the rest of the day. It is amazing how fast the time flies by when I am busy. I did manage to work in a short nap that felt really good. We managed to read from the A&P – I like it because most sections are quite different and so there is a lot of new words to use and patterns to figure out.

By the time for bed came, I could see many ways that the Lord blessed me today. Meeting Andi and brother Bautista so I could share the Gospel with them and in turn receive some blessings from them. The opportunity to bear my testimony. I forgot to mention that we were invited to speak in both Tangerang branches on the 4th Sunday. It will be our last time to attend the two branches where we have established many friendships. The opportunity to read and study the scriptures. It has been a wonderful Sunday here in Indonesia.

 

The graduates (L-R) Trevor Wiser, Jin-young Park, Tyler Orton.  The very delicious cake they cut and shared with the rest of us. Mary enjoying the party – out of the picture is Joel Guttormsen.

03 April 2008 – Saturday

Slept well and woke in time to study a little Indonesian and then head for the gym for a 30 minute workout. I am going to miss having a fully equipped gym less then 5 minutes walking distance away.

We had our normal morning. We got a nice letter from BYUH about the DLP saying that Hani is one of the most diligent of the students. I guess that means that most of the students are a little overwhelmed by the first weeks work. He should be coming in today and this compliment may give him a little push to do even better.

After breakfast we read from the A&P and then took a taxi to the office. Hani was already there and I spent the next three hours working with him so he could get caught up with his work on the DLP. He is a very sharp young man and I certainly hope that he can qualify for BYUH. Mary worked on English and started putting her computer files in order. When no one from her English class showed up, she took over and helped Hani with reading comprehension. We kept busy so the time rather flew by.

After office hours we returned to the apartment and rested before going back to office to meet Elder and Sister Walker who have offered us a ride to the English Branch graduation party for three of their young people. When the Walkers arrived the elders who were going with us were in a meeting so we waited for a half hour so they would have enough time to have a good meeting.

While we were waiting Elder Walker and I had a nice talk about what he planned to do after the Kane and us left. Not having a missionary couple in Bogor is going to make some things very difficult for the Humanitarian program.

The graduation party was at the Ortons. He works for Mobil and they have been in Indonesia for 7 years. They have a big and beautiful home. Sister Orton has taught early morning seminary in her home for 4 years. It is close to the International school where the students go. They are a fun and generous couple. Their son Tyler was one of the graduates. The others were Trevor Wiser and our own Jin-young Park who was in our first Intensive English class.

To make a long party short, there was lots of good talk, good food – a Mongolian BBQ, and a nice presentation where the fathers gave a short talk about their child and then the rest of the people present could say something. I told about how Jin-young endured difficult living conditions to take part in our class. I think I embarrassed her. After that we had dessert and then headed home. We had a great time and the elders certainly ate their fill.

When we got home we read again from the A&P before heading off to bed. The Lord blessed us with a good internet connection so Hani could do his necessary work. We had the blessing of good friends from the English branch and with the missionaries. We also got to know some of the English branch better. We probably will never see any of them after we leave Indonesia – a number of families are also leaving in the next couple of months – but I imagine we will remember them as an important part of our mission experience.