(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.