Us and our new friend Margaretha. I can not pass up taking a picture of parent with a happy child. As with all the chapels we have seen in Indonesia, the Jogya chapel is beautifully landscaped. This is just one of many bougainvillea in bloom.

18 May 2008 – Sunday

I woke once but went back to sleep without getting out of bed. We had a light breakfast – that is all I could take after all that food last night. It was interesting to hear more about the Taylor’s mission to the Philippines. They seemed to have had a very strong effect on the members of the three wards they worked with. They are doing the same thing here and I am sure will continue to change lives as long as they can serve missions.

We had a fine time standing outside and meeting and greeting. Some of the people we knew from Saturday but most were instant new friends. While we were waiting a family of 4 rode in on a bicycle. Elder Torrens told me that the father would drop off the other three and then go back to pick up the rest of his family. After the meeting they would go home the same way. They were too poor to afford public transportation or even two bicycles but were very faithful in attending. I wondered if I was that father would I be that faithful.

Mary continued to bond with her new friend Margaretha who brought her a copy of a book of historic batik patterns and a piece of batik that she had designed and made herself. Mary was very touched by this.

We ended up without a song book so I just listened to the Saints sing the songs. I could understand some of the words but I could feel everyone of them. The Spirit does flow when the Saints sing. After the Sacrament, our young friend Anna spoke and as she bore her testimony it was easy to see how deeply she knew the gospel was true and how much it meant to her. I am sure there were a number of us hoping that as the Spirit spoke to and through her, she would know what decisions she should make in her life right now. There was another talk by a young man and then the choir of about 20-25 members sang a beautiful hymn. The Indonesian members sing with their hearts as much as they sing with their voices.

The rest of the program was turned over to President Marchant and the first person he called on was Mary. It turned out she had been preparing for this and did a good job bearing most of her testimony in Indonesian. Vita was there to give her some help and support but she did not use her much. I was very proud of her. The President then called on Hendra to speak and he talked about his life in the Church and bore a strong testimony. The President closed the meeting with some advice and his testimony.

We went to Gospel Principles with the elders and Sister Margaretha. The elders showed a video on the life of Jesus which was in English and it was easy to see that she was soaking up the message. She is going to be a great member and if she is patient and is an example to her husband, I am sure he will feel her testimony and join. Everyone is counseling her to not push her husband but let him come to a knowledge of the truth on his own. As the class ended I bore my testimony to Margaretha – half in Indonesian and half in English.

They have a good sized PH group and they seemed to be almost all involved. Most of them bring their manuals and follow along with the instructor. The lesson was on personal prayer and revelation. Elder Torrens translated for all us English speakers.

After the meetings we said goodbye to many people who we will probably never see again. We will miss seeing and talking to them but most we should be able to keep track of by e-mail. I am especially interested in how Vita does – she has an opportunity to do well in her new business and hopefully she will find a good priesthood holder who will love her and together they will raise the next generation of Church leaders here in Indonesia.

Mary had a hard time getting away. We had to go find and remind her that we needed to get the Marchants and Toones back to their hotel so they could check out and get to the airport. She was talking to Margaretha and just could not get away. Hopefully Mararetha will be able to come to Jakarta before we leave and we can take her to Church on our last Sunday – a week before she will be baptized.

On the flight home I sat next to a man who works with children for a charity organization. I got his card and gave him a pass-along card about families and invited him and his children to go to the English classes. English classes are a powerful tool for introducing people to the church. It is also an easy way to give pass-along cards. Before the flight I asked Mary if she wanted to sit in the middle or on the aisle and she said that I should sit in the middle because I was better at talking to people about the Church. It seems as usual she was correct.

I almost forgot to mention that on Saturday Elder Bastian went home to see if they can find out what has caused him to have headaches for the last four months. Friday when the President mentioned that he was going home, I immediately called him to say goodbye. He is a great elder who has worked with terrible pain for all those months. He never complained and always seemed to be able to smile. But if you caught him at a private time, you could see the pain and how it affected him. He really wanted to finish out the last two months of his mission but the Lord will bless him for his endurance and dedication. Elder Thiemann was sent to Menado for a week and a new Assistant will be called.

So ended our last trip before we leave Indonesia. There will be more goodbyes and more tears. But the memories and the love will always be with us. How blessed are we who are given this great opportunity to serve missions. How foolish were we not to do this 10 years ago. We could have found a way if we had truly tried. I hope our children and grandchildren learn wisdom from us and not put off for even one day the chance to start serving the Lord by serving as many missions as they can.