View from one of the windows on the loft – about 3 feet from where I am typing this.

11 June 2008 – Wednesday

All day yesterday and even part of today, I was determined that today should be Thursday. I guess I want to get the 6 months that we need to wait to go on our next mission to pass quickly. I am sure it will without me skipping days.

Still have the cold and decided to take it easy today to try and give my body a chance to work on healing. We read from the A&P but only for a short time. I just could not concentrate. I then took a short nap. We continue to clean up some of the piles we have made while unpacking. Also there are things to be moved back into our bathroom. After lunch I did a small amount of work in the yard – every little bit helps. However I was soon tired and decided to be wise and stop.

I just took the three pictures shown above from a window near this computer. I love looking over the sea of green of the scrub oak and see the varied structure of the mountains, the blue sky and a few fluffy white clouds. What a gorgeous area we live in.

How quickly time has slid by today. It is already after 5 and it seems like I just got up. We went to Costco and who should we run into – actually he almost ran over us – but Wade Peterson. He looks as good as ever and it hard to believe that they have been home for over 9 months. It does not sound like they are eager to put in their papers for another mission. They are deeply involved in working in the temple and a singing group that Carolyn has joined. It is a shame because they are just the kind of people that is so needed. We came to buy large trash bags and Kleenex but bought lots more. Oh well we have been away for 18 months and there are a lot of holes in the pantry.

After a lovely dinner of salmon, salad and garlic toast, we went to see the bishop about getting started on applying for our next mission. As soon as he sets up our applications, we can start the process. Hopefully we will have everything done so that when Shauna sees us early in July we can have the last interviews and send them in. It will be exciting to see where the Lord wants us to go.

I forgot to mention that I received an e-mail from Elder Subandriyo about an idea that he has been working on to set up a training program for members to learn how to work in TV and movies. Indonesia has a law going into effect that says no non-Indonesians can work on either after a certain date. He asked me to see if I could find some equipment and perhaps trainers that could come to Indonesia to help with the program. After some checking I talked to David Monson, the head of LDS Audio/Visual, and he sounded very open to the idea but needs a request from higher up the line of authority before he can do anything.

I sent this information to Elder Subandriyo and suggested he get Elder Packer’s approval for the program. I was greatly surprised when at about 10:45 P.M. I got a call from Elder Subandriyo and President Marchant about the program. We shared some ideas and I told him I would be happy to help any way I could.

To me this is another confirmation that the Lord sent us to Indonesia for a very special purpose and this purpose will continue long even now and for a long time to come. This was not an wonderful interlude or temporary assignment but a call to serve that will continue in some way for the rest of our lives. It is good to be needed and to serve – hopefully we can do it in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and helpful to the Saints in Indonesia.

I am writing this at 4:30 a.m. on the 12th. I woke at about 3:15 and can not stop coughing long enough to go back to sleep. I am pleased to say that while I am not thrilled with being sick, it seems to me to be another opportunity for me to learn patience and also to have faith in the Lord.