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 3rd 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
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