Soewigno’s home and store – very nicely landscaped. Us and the Soewigno family. Their excellent small restaurant. The serve about 100 bowls of Mie Ayam a day.

The Salim family and Us. A fruit stand where they hang much of their fruit instead of stacking it neatly. I love the colors. A first for us – a balloon as a motorcycle load. At least it should not be heavy.

24 May 2008 – Saturday

A day that was a good one all the way through. The Lord truly blessed us and granted us tender mercies. The morning was devoted to study, exercise, and reading the A&P. I posted my journal and some pictures. The time flew by and Sam was soon knocking on the door. Strangely enough I have not really started on my talk for tomorrow.

We went to the office and after getting Mary settled in, Sam and I went to run some errands. When we got back, the front gate was locked and since I left my keys with Mary, there was no way to get in. But I had been prompted to plug in the desk phone before we left – I told Mary it was so if she thought of something else she needed she could call me. Instead I had to call her and ask her to come out to the gate and let us in. I count this as a tender mercy from the Lord.

The internet was humming so I was able to send off some e-mail that I was in the middle of when the power went off yesterday morning. I was surprised that Hani was not at the chapel so he could use our computers but I supposed that he was busy elsewhere. Mary worked on printing more ‘Go Fish’ cards for the elders to use.

We had to leave at noon so we could go out towards the Depok to visit brother Soewigno’s store and restaurant. I slept part of the way so it was a quick trip. We had a delightful time, got to meet his family – wife, son and daughter – see their store, warehouse and restaurant. We also got to eat his Mie Ayam which was delicious, see his house, visit his container garden that included a number of fruit trees and a flowering plant that had some of the biggest and strongest thorns I have ever seen. What impressed me most is that he and his wife has built this up by hard work and careful management. It shows that the possibilities for success in Indonesia is unlimited if you dream, plan and work very hard to accomplish your dream. He started after his mission by selling fruit that he grew himself.

After taking some pictures and saying goodbye we called our home teaching family – the Salims and asked if we could drop by to say goodbye. Usually it takes us over an hour to get to their house but we were only 15 minutes away so it was an easy trip. They are a very nice couple and I wish we could communicate directly instead of through Sam. We only stayed about 20 minutes and took some pictures. Johan was not there – he was working but we should see him next Sunday at Jakarta Raya. We thanked them for their hospitality and friendship and bid then Selamat Tinggal and they wished us Selamat Jalan.

In the evening we went to the chapel so Mary could play for choir practice. I used the time to write my talk. It just flowed and I think it is quite good. I do not think I will have time to give it all but I am prepared for everything from 10 to 20 minutes.

By the time we got home it was almost bedtime, so I read some from the Teachings of Joseph Smith and turned off the lights on a good day. A day filled with small blessings and friendships. A day that allowed us to serve and be served.