Motorcycle loads can be found anywhere in Indonesia. This is an interesting one because the rider is carrying it himself. Usually there is a passenger who handles the load so the driver can use both hands. The craft fair was not much but I thought this lady’s booth was very rich and beautiful. Too bad there were not many people who got to see it. There are horse drawn carriages everywhere in Jogya. This is one of the nicer ones and the owner obviously takes good care of it and his horse. This is not always the case and some of the horses look under nourished.

Our missionary group photo. Elder Torrens and Elder McMillian will have more baptisms on June 6th than the branch has had in 3 years and there are more progressive investigators in the system. The Taylors love these two missionaries. We had the privilege of working with both of them for a short time while they were in Jakarta. President Marchant and Elder Taylor at the Taylor’s before we left for the chapel on Friday. The Jogya chapel is having a major face lift. The ever present bamboo scaffolding makes an interesting design.

17 May 2008 – Saturday

I slept very well and longer than usual. I did not even wake up once. Before breakfast I took a walk around the neighborhood to see what there was to see. After breakfast we read from the Kitab Mormon while the Taylors got things together for the fireside tonight. They are going to have banana splits.

Since President Marchant needed the Taylors car and driver, we took a cab to drop off our pictures to be printed. Then we went to see a craft fair. It turned out to be a rather pathetic thing but when the Marchants and Toones joined us they found some things they really liked and made the day for one of the merchants. I bought a shirt and Mary got a very colorful mat.

They then dropped us off at Malioboro street so we could get a couple of things we wanted to take back to give to people. They then went to the Taylors house to pick up the food. We quickly found what we wanted but it took a while to negotiate the right price. It is rather fun once you get the idea of what you can get things for. Once we had them, we went to the hotel where the others are staying and used the President’s key to rest for a while in the cool of their room.

Then we caught a couple of pedi-cabs to the chapel. That took longer than expected but it was certainly faster than walking and a lot more fun. The cab drivers were really friendly and one spoke pretty good English. It is amazing how they work their way through the traffic.

The fireside was pretty well attended and I think I did well telling about my conversion and giving the youth a challenge to bring friends to English class so they could learn English and see how the gospel brings joy to each of the youth. They do not have to really preach the gospel – just live it. I will be interested in if they will actually do this or not.

After the meeting I scooped the ice cream for the banana splits. The youth went through almost all the 8 liters of ice cream. While we were doing this President Marchant, the Toones and Hendra from the office had a meeting about financial keeping and auditing.

When all the meetings were over, we all went to dinner at a hotel. Elder McMillan and Elder Torrens joined us. As usual the food was excellent and I ate way too much food. But the best part was sitting around the table talking about our mission experiences. It is rather amazing how the Lord takes people from different backgrounds, with different talents and with different ideas and makes them one in His service.

By the time we got back to the Taylors’ we were very tired but I decided I needed to pack as much as I could before going to bed. I was able to pack just about everything that we had bought and that which we would not need tomorrow in the big suitcase. We should be able to pack rather quickly tomorrow morning.

I have not mentioned that Elder Taylor has dropped over 20 pounds and looks great. He wants to lose more and I am sure he will. I had forgotten that Sister Taylor was a diabetic and so she has to be careful about her diet. So here is a couple where the husband has had three hernia operations in less than two years and a wife that has diabetes having a great influence on the people in Jogya Indonesia. As we talked to the Taylors about their plans they say that they are going to continuing serving missions as long as they are able.

The the airport – the grounds are beautiful and so is my wife so they make a great pair.

Mary took these pictures of Mt. Merapi and another volcano while we circled above Jogya. Although we have seen them from a distance one we never went to see Mt Merapi up close. Maybe the next time we come to Indonesia.

Much of the time we had four couples and the driver in the car so Sister Marchant was a good sport and sat on the center console seeing where we had been but not where we were going. That is us with the Taylor’s High School English class. They are a good group of young people with one of them a non-LDS who will be baptized on the 6th of June. The picture of us and Vita is special because we had grown close to her when she was in our first IEC. She is an amazing young woman who is basically the ‘mother’ and breadwinner of a family of 6. But with all of her problems she never stops smiling and doing anything that she is called to do in the Church.

16 May 2008 – Friday

I slept like a log but the alarm got me out of bed. We get ready to go, finish packing the things we needed to use this morning and some last minute things we thought about. About the time we finished breakfast, shut off a number of appliances, and watered the plants, Sam and Anny arrived. We finished up the last things, checked to see we had all the important things – camera, phone, badges, keys, passports and tickets and headed for the airport.

The traffic was light so we got here early. Check in was easy so we had about 90 minutes to wait for boarding. I got out the computer and caught up this journal. We should be boarding in 5 – 10 minutes. At least we will if that plane sitting out there is ours and there are no problems. Next stop – Jogya.

It was our plane but we did not get on for about 30 minutes. Then when we got to Jogya, there was some kind of military operation going on at the airport and we had to go into a holding pattern for about 20 minutes. So we arrived at Jogya 40 minutes late but the wonderful Taylors were waiting for us.

From there on we had a different kind of day. The Taylors brought us to their house but soon after that Elder Taylor and their driver went back to the airport to pickup President and Sister Marchant and Elder and Sister Tunes. The Tunes are the area auditors and so they will audit the branch here in Jogya and the ones in Solo – or at least that is what I think they will be doing. Maybe they are only auditing the district or doing some training. Hendra also came in but he went right to Solo to train a new district clerk.

While Elder Taylor was gone the sisters worked on the food for tonight and I took a nice nap. Then when everyone was here we squeezed into the Taylors car and did a little shopping. We went back to the area where they sell wholesale. We only bought a few things – I should say Mary only bought a few things. While we were looking around, Elder Tunes did not remember where he had left his briefcase with all of their money, passports, etc. He was afraid that he had left it sitting outside the Taylor’s house. So they needed to go back and see if he did.

But that complicated things because someone needed to be at the chapel because the elders were coming to teach a single sister and so female needed to be there. We volunteered to be dropped off and the others went to check on the missing briefcase and pick up the food.

We had not eaten since a snack on the airplane at 8:30 so I went looking for food and water while Mary held down the fort. Of course at first I went the wrong direction and did not find anything. So I turned around and first found a warung that sold cold water and then a bakery. By then I was two or three hot blocks from the chapel but a nice pedicab driver helped me across the street and then peddled me back to the chapel for 50 cents.

After a while the crew came back the evening festivities started with the High School English class. First there was dinner for 17 or 18 – thanks to sister Taylor – and then we observed the class. They used one of Mary’s ‘Go Fish’ games for the last half so we helped them teach the game to the students. They seemed to really like it and I think they will use it in the future.

Three of our Intensive English Class graduates were there – Vita and Anna from our first class and Erna from our last class. I gave each a hug and the President shook his finger at me for breaking one of the mission rules. He said that he guess he could not send me home early since we were leaving in 2 weeks. We had a nice talk with Vita and shorter ones with the other young ladies. Unfortunately Anna is going to marry her non-member French man in September and move to France. That is really too bad because one of her sisters did this with an Englishman and is not happy because he will not even consider joining the Church. But the lure of a good life in some country other than Indonesia is a very big temptation for our young women. We just hope she can stay active and find some happiness.

By the time we got back to the Taylor’s house, we were rather tired. Mary talked with the Taylors while I came up and wrote in this journal. Then I joined them and we talked about our mission experiences, the classes, and other things until it was time to go to bed.

It was a good day and even the delay in our flight was a small blessing because Mary got some pictures of the area around Jogya that we would not have seen on a regular approach or take-off. We also got to spend some time with Elder Torren and Elder McMillan who we have not seen for a few months. The Taylors think that they are as good as they come and that much of the increase success here is due to their hard work.

Then we got to see Vita, Anna and Erna for one last time before we go home. Vita is one of those persons who light up a room when she comes in. Her enthusiasm for the gospel is as high as you can get. Last night Sister Taylor told us how just a brief encounter with Vita got a young man from New York interested in the gospel enough that he got in contact with the Church when he got back to the states and now has a baptism date set.

One more important event should be mentioned. We met a young woman – probably in her middle 30’s – who is investigating the Church and is going to be baptized on June 6th. Her name is Margaretha Sri Hasanah and she designs batik patterns. She does this for international clients and seems to be well thought of and maybe even famous. Mary and her immediately bonded as friends. It was like they had known each other for years instead of minutes. They just sat around and talked to each other. It was great.

 

The airplane that goes through a window. Steve – the morning host. Me taking over – Not. Thanks to all the nice folks at 96.7 FM for their kindness in showing me their station. If you are in Jakarta please tune in and give them a listen.

15 May 2008 – Special event

On the way to the chapel this morning, I had Sam stop so I could take a side view shot of the building that has the nose of an airplane sticking out it’s window. I had pictures of the window but from the angle you could not really tell it was protruding from the inside to the outside. Even Mary did not know this and she has seen it many times.

As I was taking the pictures, they invited me to go inside and of course I was glad to do that. Once inside I could see that the fuselage of the plane continued some 12 to 15 feet into the building. The very nice people there let me go into the “plane.” What I found was the broadcast studio for the FM radio station 96.7 who’s moto is “The first class station in the city.”

There I met Steve who was the host announcer for the station. I got to take some pictures and sit in the announcer’s chair. After exiting the plane I met Derry Msa one of the account executives that told me more about the station. I would have liked to stay longer but Mary, Sam and Anny were waiting for me in the car so I gave all the lovely people at 96.7 my thanks and left.

If you want to see more about 96.7 you can log on to their website at www.radioA967FM.com. And if you are ever in Jakarta you might drop in to say hello and see if you can fly with them.

Mary’s English Class at Tangerang. My English Class. Agus and Cathern’s family with the Afgan Mary made and gave them.

Lukito, Agus and us after our last ERSC meeting. Agus and his family – good friends who we will miss. Us up close and still smiling.

15 May 2008 – Thursday

Made it to the gym today and put in a good 40 minutes of exercise and weight training. The gym was really busy today. More people than I ever remember being there that early in the morning. Either a lot of new folks have moved in or have been bitten by the fitness bug.

We read from the A&P – the elders are leaving Missouri and are told to preach along the way. Some are warned about them not opening their mouths to proclaim the gospel as they had been instructed. I wonder what the Lord would say about us as we travel. Are we doing what we should to proclaim the gospel to others at all times. Sometimes this could be just from living it well but we need to pray for opportunities to speak up about the gospel and what it means in our lives. We should not fear man more than God.

We load the car with boxes of things that are either going to the office or to be shipped. At the office I work on my vocabulary exercises and tests. I also make an agenda for today’s ERSC meeting. Mary works on her English lessons. No one comes or calls about employment. We send Sam to the mall to pay the phone bill and get all the printer cartridges filled. We will leave the Rebers a good supply of cartridges so they will not need to worry about that for a while.

At the mission office Mary teaches her class and I talk to the elders. We want copies of a number of videos and slide shows that we have seen over the last couple of months. I also gave the translation section copies of the vocabulary workbooks and my vocabulary exercises. I wish I had started this a year ago. While Mary taught the others, I could have worked with them. I might have also learned some Indonesian vocabulary this way.

After the mission home we go the Wiser’s to drop off our latest box. I attempt to pay but Sister Wiser would have none of it so I did not push. We will get them a nice gift from Jogya to remember us by. They are leaving on July 9th – but the government will pack and ship their things. They have a golden retriever that has been everywhere with them. It cost $2000 to ship him from Japan and another $2000 to ship him to the US. More than the cost of a economy ticket.

The missionaries call and say that they would be there for District Meeting after all. But since we had changed our ERS meeting to 5:00 because we thought there was not going to be one, we had to tell them we would not be to their’s. We would be there for English class. Before going to the chapel we stop at the mall. We wander around looking at things – the book store does not have a single book in English except ones for learning English.

Talk about bad timing. I find that there is a BCA ATM at the mall and one of the machines gives R 100,000 ($11 US). I have looked everywhere for an ATM like that but had to always settle for R 50,000 max machines. I may get to use it one more time.

Speaking of money we are going to end up just about right. I probably have to put another R 5 Juta in the bank to cover last minute expenses. But we came very close to gauging the amount we would need. I will not be bringing many rupiahs home.

The ERSC meeting went really well. It is hard to believe it will be the last time we will meet togther. I gave Agus and Lukito a challenge to come up with a program that lets us know who needs jobs and what jobs are available each week. I think it is something we really need and can get done if people are committed to it.

If Agus can get a hand phone list made and we can set up a program where the Rebers can send SMS to all the branch specialists each Saturday reminding them that they need to send in a report on Sunday. This might give the specialists more respect for their calling and get them more involved in getting people who need jobs and those who have them together.

After the meeting we took pictures. As we were doing that the Elder arrived. It turned out they did not have District Meeting after all. After getting the T2 elders moved to their new house, they were too tired and needed to clean up before coming to the chapel for English class.

We had a good English class. Mary had two young men plus Sam and Anny. I had the two Indonesian elders, Agus’s family and two young friends they brought. We did a number of games and exercises. I am not sure they are learning any English but at least they are using it some. After class Mary gave Cathern the afgan she made. They were really surprised that we only have 2 weeks left before we leave. We will miss them and their family. Hopefully they will get to the US some day or we will come back here.

The trip home went quickly – some small traffic jams but nothing big. We started packing. We will take more than we need to but even then we only have one big bag and carry-ons. I read from the PH manual in Indonesian before turning off the lights.

It has been a good day with lots of sharing of love and warm thoughts with some of the people we have become close to. Serving a mission brings lots of experiences but it is meeting, getting to know and love, and helping people that are the most important and long lasting.

14 May 2008 – Wednesday

A very quiet P-day. We read from A&P three times, I worked on my journal and pictures. We continue to clean and pack the house. We decided we would do it over the remainder of our time and in that way we will not have a big rush at the end.

I am reading from the new Ensign. It is interesting how talks that I have heard, seen and even read from the web or from the DVDs, still produce new thoughts and ideas.