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.
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.
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.