Sunday, January 27, 2019

Week 60: Days, Nights and Prayers Built Around Others in Indonesia

Like the majority of us daily life is constructed thinking and focusing on those we love… parents, spouse, children, grandchildren, extended families, neighbors and acquaintances. As missionaries in Indonesia we have added a whole new group of people to love, and focus our thoughts. Below are examples and opportunities for deep regard for those in Indonesia:

An 80 year old woman fell and broke her hip. She is a sweet friend and we drove to find her location after learning about her injury. We found her laying flat in bed on a mattress on the floor in a little room with one chair. Because of her age she does not qualify for surgery. For treatment they wrapped her entire leg hip down to her toes with ace bandage type tape. Fortunately she had a long term employment drawing blood for the Red Cross so she qualified for placement at a Red Cross care facility. Her long rehabilitation begins. It’s difficult when our personal “American” health care expectations exceed the care for patients here in Indonesia.


1. This week we celebrated the 80th birthday of a man who blew out candles on one of the few birthday cakes of his life. He shared about his life and it was a brilliant occasion. He had 4 children, two are living. One of his sons, lives with him and together they are raising the 7 year old boy of one his deceased daughters.



2. We spent time with a young couple with two children. He works occasional jobs roofing and drives a “GoJek. A “GoJek” driver uses his own motorcycle (most are about 120 CC) and similar to an Uber driver in the U.S. they pick up people all day long on their motorcycles from stop to stop. A GoJek driver can also choose to pick up food and deliver to customers. He spends 9 hours a day and on a good day can make equivalent to $17 American dollars a day. A hard working man and his family are happy.


3. A woman friend shared in the last 30 years she was married for 5 of them to a man who did not make her happy and she did not feel safe. Her feelings are still very much on the surface. She has found happiness from friends and God.

A “becak” is a vehicle to transport people. We meet with a man who pedals this bicycle with a two wheeled cart for his passengers to sit in front of him. When Brock comes in March we will rent three becaks for the 5 of us and explore in the city for a half day. He has driven one for nearly 50 years. He is happy and lives in a gong with extended family all around him.

We had a great dinner with the owner of a restaurant and his married daughter. He is a retired major of the Indonesian Air Force who flew missions in the 70’s and 80’s over now Papua and dropped relief care packages for people who were victims of war.



4. We visited with two separate elderly widows. It requires a careful plan to be effective because they are unable to read. There are actually 3 women that we will travel with to Manila that are unable to read. It is amazing what we can do to have fun and learn together when we plan properly.

An actor and makeup artist in a traditional Javanese Solo theater and his wife greet us with big friendly smiles. Their big family prepares great food for us. We sit on the floor. We discussed together the new “Come, Follow Me” home learning Church supported Individual scripture New Testament chapters for the week.


5. This is the sweetest little 3 year old girl with the name “Calista” at the church. Our granddaughter Rebecca’s daughter “Callista” (with an extra L) in Utah is 13 years old. The name is not Indonesian. We had a precious photo moment together. Calista charmed us with a perfect pose! Knowing her name made a special connection with us!



6. We spent time with the parents of one of the Indonesian missionaries this week to strengthen their faith.

7. Additional family members listened as we met with a young couple married at the Church in December 2018 and they are preparing to have their marriage performed for “eternity” (life after death”) in April 2019 in the Manila Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple.

8. It is hard work and takes miracles to be in tune with spiritual promptings, agency (others own responsibility to make their own choices) and keep focused. Our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Our daily lives are built around these experiences and many others in Indonesia.


Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Wek 59: Stubbed Toes in Tight Places

Robert and I laugh in the evenings after we return home from our days of missionary ministering to our tiny little apartment.  We enter the door and Robert can sit down at the table in one of our bright green cheerful plastic chairs, then without moving out of the chair he can actually cook at the stove top, open the refrigerator and freezer, deposit garbage, wash a dish, use the microwave, reach the water dispenser, turn the lights on and off, switch the power breakers, call through the intercom the maintenance support, lock the doors and do all those activities without moving from sitting in the same one chair! 



It is amazing to live in tight places! As a result of twisting and turning around the tight spaces we have each stubbed our toes at least 100 times.  We have learned to laugh and cry at the same time. We want to remember our stubbed toes in tight places in our Missionary apartment!



Week 58: Christmas in Surakarta

One of the ways in which we spent many wonderful days in homes during the month of December was by sharing an inspirational Christmas video “O’ Come O’ Come Emmanuel’ done by the Piano Guys. This is a piano and cello duet that is absolutely beautiful.  It allows almost everyone to feel the Spirit of Christmas.   There are no words, just remarkable music and pictures of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.  It was a perfect 5 minute presentation that crossed over the bridge of language translation with quiet beautiful spiritual music and the following beautiful message:
"The Christmas season is a time to celebrate the priceless gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His birth is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God and the Redeemer of all mankind.” 

On December 20th, we had a very special Christmas Zone Devotional in Solo.  All the Jawa Tenga missionaries gathered for training,  each district sang a prepared Christmas hymn, we shared in a fun white elephant gift exchange, a beautiful buffet lunch at a restaurant a short walk from the church, and ended with the Mission President and his wife presenting a very spiritual reading and singing from Luke. It was followed by an inspirational video. 

On Christmas Eve day Monday our preparation day, we invited the Solo District which consists of 6 other missionaries and a friend to our apartment for a dinner Christmas party. We began at 3pm and ended by 5:30pm.  We sang, ate good food and shared time together like a “family”,

Christmas was a quiet day talking on the phone to all of our children and grandchildren, watching their videos of the holiday, writing letters and feeling the Spirit of Christmas. Merry Christmas to all of you our friends and family.  Happy New Year ! wow 2019!   Love, Elder and Sister Miller