What I Know For Sure - Oct. 2nd, 2011

By: Melvin

When I first thought of writing this article, I was going to name it ‘go figure’, as I put my thoughts down you will see why I changed it. The week had started out pretty much as a ‘do nothing week’. Projects were running well, things were pretty much caught up, we had no trips planned, nothing very important to check on and I thought “this is going to be a terribly long week”.

On about Tuesday, Elder Subandriyo informed us that Kevin Nield (Head of Asia Area Services) wanted to visit us in early November. He wants to see some of our projects, namely Mt. Merapi, wheel chairs, NU project and artificial limbs. This immediately got us to work, trying to finish off some projects and trying to gather some information on others.

Tuesday night at English class, we had six non-members. This came after we hung a banner across the church driveway advertising free English lessons. This was a great class.

Wednesday we had two new couple missionaries arrive from Provo MTC. They are member support missionaries who will be working in Solo and Surabaya. It was great to see new people from the United States, Arizona and Pennsylvania to be exact. We helped with the welcome dinner for the new arrivals.

On Thursday morning we visited Sister Nening’s elementary school. The school was part of an education University and it is so surprising to see the buildings and conditions that children are taught in here in Indonesia. We were told that most of the students were from middle income families, and yet the rooms they occupied were very run down. Cement steps broken off, holes in the sidewalks and play area, ditches that didn’t drain properly and bathrooms that were very primitive, however the teachers seemed to be doing an adequate job of teaching. While we taught songs in a couple of classes the students were very receptive. I had a great deal of fun teaching them. Most of the students were Muslim with a few Christians. Pretty uneventful huh!

On Thursday night the new Indonesian Missionaries started to arrive. That afternoon Sister Beaman fixed lunch for all of us again, and Thursday evening I accompanied three missionary wives to Whitakers to teach crocheting to the Young Women of the English Ward all two girls. The taxi driver stopped 5 times to find the address!! However an 80 cents tip made him a “Happy Camper”.

On Friday morning more missionaries arrived and we found that a member of our Indonesian Ward had died during the night. I think this is what changed a slow ordinary week to a very humbling week. While Muriel, (Sister Meredith), made rolls and helped cook dinner for 30 missionaries, Elder Parowono and Elder Tate and I attended the funeral. Earlier that morning, Elder Quinn had been shipped to Surabaya after being at the mission home for the past 6 months. He is a wonderful missionary and like a son. When we went to the funeral we found the deceased in a pine box in the middle of the cultural hall. The pine box was not fancy, but had been stained and looked nice. The lid was lying against a couple of chairs, the body way lying in the coffin with a covering of mosquito netting. They don’t often embalm in Indonesia as the Muslims believe they should be buried within 24 hours of death. The guests were seated in two rows down each side of the cultural hall with the casket in the middle. Many beautiful songs were sung and talks given by relatives, and much crying due to the great love for the deceased.

As they screwed the cover on at the end of the service I thought how similar and yet and how different to our own Utah funerals. The congregation had many Mormons and Muslims attending. After the services everyone went to the cemetery. The cemeteries are separated with Muslims on one side and Christians on the other and a road separating them. The cemetery was very old, rustic, and crowded. The plots were right next to each other with no grass and many of the markers were made out of wood, often with 2 or 3 people buried on top of each other in the same space. Weeds were the order of the day; the hole had been dug by hand with dirt thrown around the sides. When the casket was placed above the hole the boards supporting it cut deep into the bank. After a few songs and a grave dedication and closing prayer a large rope was placed under the casket head and foot and four young grave workers lifted the casket with a rope, the boards were pulled out from under it, and the casket was lowered into the ground. The grave workers then proceeded to fill it the grave and the congregation sang songs and watched the workers. It was a very sad but a beautiful service for the 50 year old uncle, son, brother and friend. This is the same cemetery that we wrote about earlier that was so poverty stricken.

That evening we had the privilege of eating dinner with 20 brand new Indonesian Elders that were leaving for the MTC in the Philippines. Sandi our driver is one of their teachers for 3 weeks. They are only 18 years old, a few have been serving for a month or so, and all will be reassigned when they return to Jakarta. Such humility and excitement you have never seen among young men. They are going to be great missionaries. (Yes we will be without a driver for 3 weeks)

On Saturday, we went to the Jakarta Batik show for “P-Day” with the Beamans. Also, we ate lunch at “Smokey Joes Bar-B-Que”. It was wonderful and a great place to eat!!

Today at Church we had two wonderful testimonies meetings, and heard from Kent telling us about the new Provo Temple. We get conference next week!!

Now you see why it wasn’t just another week after all, it was a great week. The thing I know for sure is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and we all play a part in spreading it throughout the world. Sometimes we wonder just exactly what it is we are doing, but the Lord is always with us, if we pray for guidance and do those things we know we should. Even living in America, we can do much to further the Gospel. We can be friends to those children at school who appear to not have any friends, we can love our neighbors and show it by helping them, we can study the scriptures, love and respect our parents, and be the great people that we are capable of being. This I know for sure, the Gospel is True, Jesus is our brother and our Savior and our Father in Heaven loves us dearly.

1. 1. 20 new missionaries Future of Indonesia

2. 2. Kindergarden class, Sister Meredith

3. 3. Batik car ( Mercedes Benz) car pattern is exact duplicate of square

4. 4. Elder Meredith, Sister Nening and class

Medan Cataracts Dec. 2010

Medan Cataract – Medan, Indonesia

PROJECT WE10IDN002

On December 21, 2010 we (Sister Meredith and I) flew to the city of Medan in North Sumatera to check on our cataract project WE10IDN002 which is a ‘cataract removal for the poor’ project with the Sari Mutiara Hospital under the direction of Dr. Kiri Purba. This project was already in operation when we arrived in Indonesia, and was set up and started by Elder and Sister John Milicam.

When we arrived in Medan, we were warmly greeted by Dr. Purba, his father who is also a doctor, and his brother Dr Kaman Purba who is a Federal Legislator representing North Sumatera.

The typical ceremony was held with many officials and press in attendance. We were able to meet with the head of the ‘Disabled People of North Sumatera’, and present some wheelchairs that the Hospital had received through a previous donation from LDSC.

While we were there we also witnessed some of the cataract removal operations, and met with other needy people.

We were very impressed with the hospital and what the Purba Family is doing for the poor in North Sumatera.

Senior Dr. Purba, unknown, Dr. Purba legislator, directly behind in blue shirt Dr. Purba director. Front right, Elder Allen, Elder Meredith and Sister Meredith

September 4, 2011

VISIT FROM FAMILY

On August 20, 2011, after a very long (25 hours plus one day lost due the International Date Line crossing) airplane ride, Kent and AnnaLen arrived in Jakarta at 1:30 pm. The plane had arrived early so all the permits and luggage had been gathered when we got to the airport. AnnaLen had been making a list of “wants” that Muriel had for many weeks and had an extra suitcase or two just for us. Coming home we rode through the center of Jakarta. Kent and AnnaLen were able to see beautiful down town Jakarta. I think they were most impressed with Sandi’s driving skills, roads were packed and cars were close. Upon arriving home, we prepared a small dinner that we had invited Elder and Sister Subandriyo, President and Sister Groberg, Elder and Sister Beaman (new office couple), ourselves and Kent and AnnaLen. We had so much food that we had the 4 Elders (Ward, Soewignyo, Quinn, and Powono) come in after to eat up the extra.

On Sunday Morning we all went to the Jakarta 3^rd Ward (English) and then the Jakarta 2nd Ward (Indonesian) Sacrament meetings. After Meeting, Sandi took us to the Airport and we flew to Solo on Garuda Airlines. We were met at the airport by Elder and Sister Grover and their driver Bono, who took us to dinner and then to our hotel. We had nice hotel rooms at Ibis Hotel on the top floor.

On Monday Morning, August 22, 2011, we were able to eat a good breakfast at the hotel and then were picked up by Brother Sutarno, who is the contractor for our Jenawi water Project, that will deliver clean water to 30,000 Indonesian people in 8 different villages. Elder and Sister Grover, who have been very much our right hand in watching the progress of the project, were able to take the morning and go with us to hike to the top of the lower water source. Their driver, Bono, was also able to accompany us. We have made this hike many times, but I never tire of the pure beauty of such a great country. The area is all farms and jungle with lots of people spread throughout. It is my favorite part of all Indonesia. After about a two hour drive each way and a three hour hike, we had a great Indonesian lunch of baked fish (with heads on),chicken and orange drink (jaruit with ice).

In the evening, back at the hotel, Muriel and I had dinner with Asia Area President Perkins and Sister Perkins, President and Sister Groberg, Elder and Sister Groberg. President Perkins was there for a mission tour and we were juggling our schedule so we could see them there instead of Jakarta, thus more time with our kids. President Perkins was there to interview couples and missionaries, and since we aren’t on our way home we must have passed!! Kent and AnnaLen went to dinner with Bono and his wife and they seemed to enjoy an Indonesian café!

Tuesday morning, August 23, 2011, we again had a good breakfast at the hotel with our family and then we had to attend meetings with President Perkins and the Central and East Java missionaries. While we were in meeting, Bono took Kent and AnnaLen to meet his mother who is about 80 years old and has a bad heart, and sister and family. Kent checked her medicine and made some recommendations and then Bona took them to a Batik Store where they saw how Batik was done and they were able to do some shopping.

At noon we left meetings (Sister Perkins told me earlier that if it was her she wouldn’t be there listening to her talk, she would be with her kids if they were there visiting) and Moko, Sutarno’s son, who just got his mission call to Brisbane, Australia, drove us to Jogjakarta where we visited an old (about 600 AD) Buddhist Temple which was very interesting. We then stayed at the Ibis Hotel in Jogjakarta that night. We had some time so we walked around the mall and streets for a while in the evening.

Wednesday morning, August 24, we flew early in the morning to Denpasar, Bali. Upon arrival we were met by the hotel taxi and taken to the Aston Hotel and Resort. We arrived before noon and so our rooms were not ready, we were given a drink, went to eat and walked around the resort, a huge swimming pool, beach and Ocean right out the door. Our room was the Presidential suite because the manager of the Hotel was originally from the English Branch in Jakarta so he treated us very well. Bedroom/Bath on each side of a Large Common Room, with a third bathroom and private patio looking out over the pool, Ocean and beautiful grounds. Kent and AnnaLen swam in the Ocean and we just laid on lounge chairs ( I Slept). Brother Robert Hunter talked to us three times the first day!! In the evening we walked along the street and found a real nice out door restaurant, and watched Indonesian youth doing Balinese dancing.

Thursday, August 25, 2011, We watched the Sun rise over the Ocean, which we never see here in Indonesia, it was beautiful. We were picked up at 9:00 am by Paliman, a member there, and given a wonderful tour of Bali. We saw the, “Rice Terraces of Bali”, The Hindu Temple that appears on a 50,000 Rupiah bill, and many parts of Bali that are not seen by the everyday tourist. It was a great day with our wonderful family.

That evening we had a bar-b-que buffet. On August 26, 2011, we ate breakfast, layed around for a while, picked up some more souvenirs, and caught a taxi to the airport. When we arrived in Jakarta, Atin took us shopping at Blok M where we were able to get some real Indonesian clothes and get a feel for millions of people.

Saturday, August 27, 2011, at 6:00 am we headed back to the airport, and our kids flying home. They will have a long flight but they gained back the day they lost coming over. We love our family so much; both those that came to visit and those that can’t come, you all mean so much to us.

We know it cost them a great deal of money and time and Analen’s mother 10 days of her time, but it was so great to be able to show them

INDONESIA INDA

August 31, 2011

REMEMBERING

As I sit here listening to the celebration of the ending of Ramadan or the month of fasting, I have had a few moments to think and reflect back on the past months and years. Today is the second day of Idul Fitri or the end of Ramadan. Muslims set aside a whole month to fast. It starts at the first call to prayer at 4:30 am in the morning and ends at about 6:00 pm at night. During that time the older people (children are excluded) do not eat or drink or smoke,( most males ten years and older smoke). As soon as fasting ends for the day, everyone heads for the food, warungs, cafes, and little stands on the side of the road. Most eating places like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, cafés, etc. have huge blinds they pull down and those people who do not choose to fast can eat without offending those who are fasting.

Today is the last day of Idul Fitri and call to prayer has lasted all night and is still going!!! (Call to prayer is called over loud speakers all over the cities and starts at 4:30 in the morning and is repeated 5 or 6 times throughout the day, ending around 7:30 at night) During the last week of Ramadan called Idul Fitri everyone leaves the cities and goes back to their home villages, a huge mass exodus to visit family and especially the older members of the family. It is probably best described the equivalent to our Christmas Celebration, where everyone goes home for Christmas.

I have thought a lot about when Paul and I were growing up and all the things we used to do, lots of childhood memories. I can remember one day out on the farm we were riding our bikes down the road to the house, from the big orchard. We had to go around that corner by Bowen’s house. For some reason I was pulling Paul, probably because he didn’t have a chain on his bike, and he told me to pedal faster so we could make it around the corner through that big pile of sand. Well I pedaled as fast as I could go right into the sand and the fence posts. The most I can remember is that I had a red and white striped shirt on and it turned completely red. Paul took me into the house bleeding and crying, okay so I was only 8 years old and just learning to ride a bike, and I think Mom probably had a few words to say about riding bikes carefully!!

I have thought quite a bit about our last get together before we left on our mission. I was being my typical smart aleck self and said, “now, I have cancelled all funerals until we get home in 18 months because I can’t come home, so please keep that in mind. Paul looked at me and said, “Muriel, that is something we don’t have control over, but I will try and keep that in mind.” I have thought a lot about his statement. Our Father in Heaven is very much in control of our lives and he knows what is best for us, much more than we know for ourselves.

I was so appreciative of the Indonesian people and Missionaries that work here in the Church Center by us. When they found out Paul had passed away they all came down to our apartment with a huge bouquet of flowers and a card they had all signed for us. They have been so kind and helpful to us, we will miss them a lot when we come home. It was so nice to have Kent and AnnaLen come that same week. It didn’t make Paul’s passing any easier, but it did take my mind off of myself for a while. It is so hard to be away from home at a time like this, but I do know the Lord has a purpose for us being here. I just hope we are accomplishing the things we were sent here to do. Hopefully we have touched some lives for good. As Elder Bednar said when he was here in May, we are all part of a huge tapestry, we are but one thread, but we don’t know what the big picture will be like or when we may touch someone else for good when all these threads fall into place.

Thank You all for thinking of us. We are doing well, time is going fast and there is a lot of work to do here in Indonesia. We love and miss everyone but we know this is where we need to be right at this time!!

Inside the Istiqlal Mosque the largest Mosque in Indonesia! Room for 2000

People to pray at once!

Some of the center people we work with, President & Sister

Groberg and missionaries and flowers and card. Flowers are daisies, carnations, Lilys and at least a dozen red roses!!!