Week 34: Magelang Wedding Culture and Government Requirements

This young couple was married first in the Magelang Branch Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a ceremony performed by the Branch President.  The bride was dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown. Then, they privately went to the Indonesian government local office for a civil ceremony.

At the home of the Bride there was a Javanese ceremony which includes a very respectful tribute to the parents of the Bride and groom

September 4, 2018 They will travel to Manila Philippines where their marriage will be sealed for eternity for our Post Mortal life.  Ordinance performed in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Temple.

SPECIAL EDITION: “Ducks in a Row” 1 and 2

Week 33: Elder & Sister Miller’s 45th Wedding Anniversary in Bali

August 21, 2018  

A 1 hour and ten minute flight to BALI!  Hindu Culture Experiences in Bali…. Elder and Sister Miller’s 45th Wedding Anniversary 

August 14th, After a wonderful week we packed our suitcases for travel.  Elder Miller and I sent our 17 year old grandson on a “Trip Around the World” plane ride home to Utah, Elder Miller and I boarded a short one hour and ten minute air flight time for Bali, and our driver embarked on an overnight train ride with his wife to Jakarta for a family wedding.  

Our driver in Bali was a young man with two children who is Balinese and devout Hindu.  He not only drove us but taught us about his Hindu faith, traditions and lifestyle.  Bali was a very different culture from our experiences in Solo Indonesia.  We appreciated the “offerings” in the vehicle and everywhere we looked around us.  He told us in his family compound and family temples they shared 60 offerings each day.

Driver in Bali

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an offering 

Elephant Safari Ride

Komodo Dragon

cremation ceremony






wedding anniversary



 
45 years

Church in Bali.  We had to evacuate to the street from the church building it was a “rocking and rolling’ earthquake

                 On our way home we bumped into President Joko Widowo in the Denpensar Airport and took a little ride with him.  He is a beloved President in the country of Indonesia.

Week 32: Special Delivery One Grandson Bruce McConkie Comes to Visit the Indonesia Jakarta Mission!

A glimpse of a wonderful jam packed week! We were hoping he would make it???? Salt Lake to Atlanta to Seoul Korea to Jakarta to Solo whoosh!!!  35 hours

HOORAY

                             

There he Was!!! 

We had a spare bedroom prepared for our first and probably sole visitor!

We went for dinner and Bruce found immediate friends.

We put him to work as a Missionary with us.  Zone Conference

We put him to work as a Missionary with us.  Zone Conference

More missionary experiences Sate us yummy food rice etc 

Studying

Mission President and Wife

An afternoon with the Zone Leaders ten teaching together

Bruce was a celebrity everywhere 

Crowd at member's 

       Mt. Merape Active volcano

Traditional Market

Shocking truck loads

Captivated by how tall Bruce is!

International Gamalan Festival Video

Sister Miller’s good friends daughters Muslim Javanese wedding.  We have been preparing our clothes for this event and we rented Bruce the entire tradtional clothing below.
                                         

Javanese Missionary attire for the evening.

Karis of course (weapons)

Sister Miller’s friend Mother of the Bride on the left

After Borobudur and Prambanan leaving from Yogyakarta Indonesia Bruce took off for Jakarta to Shanghai China, to Seattle and home to Salt Lake

Borobudur Buddist Temple

xoxoxoxoxox love Grandma and Grandpa Miller

Week 31: Ke- - an “Circumfix” An Update on Bahasa Indonesia!

August 6, 2018 

We are so appreciative because the young Missionaries are always eager to translate our feelings and thoughts every day.  They also attempt with great enthusiasm to teach us some skills in the learning of the language.  Below is a chalkboard illustration of some teaching time with “Circumfix” adjectives.    damai = peaceful    Apakah anda merasa kedamaian?  Do you feel peace?  Ya, saya merasa kedamaian.  Yes, I feel peace.  Interesting and hard work!!!

We feel that we understand many words but it is extremely difficult to speak with speed and confidence but we will continue to work! work! work! As we do our work, we witness the enduring work ethic of wonderful men and women.  This is “Headwork”

                                                             
This Sister below cooks 500 of these little wraps (something similar to a little flour, egg, and water crepe) with a little tiny spot of chicken sauce inside.  Six days a week for approximately 17 years.  Elder Miller calculated that she has prepared and deep- fried in hot oil 2,652,000. items, herself, at home in her traditional kitchen.  She distributes and sells to different warongs and carts on the streets for others to sell.  One afternoon as we visited there happened to be a neighborhood party and it was wonderful to see this time of  relaxation and enjoyment for so many very hard workingThis young man below works to  make Javanese hats every day by hand.  Elder Miller bought a “Solo” design which identifies where we live in the Javanese Jawa Tengah. 
                                                  
                                                  

                                                       
                                               
These Sisters worked very hard to prepare for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints choir on a special Sunday Ward Conference.  They wore matching skirts (or batik dresses)  which is a tradition for many church events in the Solo area.  Their hard work and preparation provided a beautiful choir program.
                                           
For many months this Sister below studied, prayed and worked to learn and  to develop faith and conversion and confirmation of the truth by the power of the Roh Kudus (the Holy Ghost) . Her enduring work and development of faith and understanding by the Spirit led to her decision to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Miller and I met her many months ago and traveled to Semarang to share this special day with her. Missionary Work is such a privilege to be a small part of here in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission.