Week 25 & 26 Sewing Machine Miracle & Lebaran Holiday

SEWING MACHINE MIRACLE”  WEEK 25

This week we presented a service project idea of sewing very simple newborn stretch hats to the local Surakarta Stake LDS Womens global Relief Society organization and the Stake President who is the church leader in the area. To participate in a project that is of value to others in the community you live in is uplifting to everyone.  It doesn’t matter how much money you have personally, but to be able to be involved in an activity to give to others a gift is a meaningful opportunity. The cost of the fabric is minimal,  the cutting and sewing levels in the project are simple enough that all ages of women can participate and many girls and women will learn a new skill.  When the idea was discussed I asked if there was a sewing machine available in any of the church buildings in the stake or area. This was a Wednesday afternoon. No one knew the answer.  The RS President took home a sample to sew on her sewing machine, 5 cut out little hats, and they were finished a short time later.  She sent me a photo and said that the project would be great.  

On Sunday there was much excitement because a church leader investigating found hidden away in a storage closet a sewing machine covered in cobwebs on a sewing machine table that was swollen from moisture.  We pulled it out of a deep dusty corner, pulled off an old cardboard box, and underneath the box we dusted off this beautiful sewing machine, plugged it in and the light went on immediately, we pressed on the control foot and the machine hummed beautifully and it worked!!!  WE were laughing and smiling and cheering!!  We decided after guessing that it hadn’t been seen in 10-20 years.  The President of the Womens Organization for all women in the area her dress was covered with dirt from leaning against this hidden miracle machine and we were consumed in delight at the blessing this machine will be for the many women who will learn a new skill and the gift to the hospital of the newborn hats and many other sewing projects.  No one at this time had any idea that this Janome machine existed and it was the final step in moving forward a great project for all women and a gift to a hospital in the area.!!! 

It was worth the dust and dirt! The dress will wash up perfectly!!

WEEK 26 LEBARAN HOLIDAY…..”WHAT IS MY NAME?”    Lots of photos because it is so interesting! 

Ha Ha Ha it didn’t seem much better yet with the language. Yesterday we attended a wonderful Lebaran holiday celebration at a friends home in a beautiful village.  There were approximately 50+ people and I began the introductions by asking everyone, “What is my name?”  It was hilarious.  We are all disappointed that we can not communicate with each other very well but a smile goes a long way.

Ramadan is an impressive 30 days.  The final celebration is called Lebaran.  Families gather much like Thanksgiving.  This is a holiday of eating and something “new".  We were invited to the beautiful home in a village of our wonderful friend who was baptized 30 years ago. The gatherings move from home to home and this is her home.  Her nieces and nephews are her children.  Her husband lives in America.  Her entire family is Muslim.  They respect her Christian faith as she does her families Muslim faith.  She explained that for Lebaran many buy something new at the end of this fast.  Traditionally new clothes, she told us maybe if some have more money they might purchase a new electronic, a new car or even a new house. 

There is also a tradition of giving money to children.  Instead of candy like Americans do at Halloween, a small amount of money is given to children at Labaran.  It must be new money, new bills.  Actually on the streets the money in packages is sold.  We bought 100,000 rupiah for 120,000 rupiah.  So others are making a good profit on the money!! The older the child is the more money they are given.  We took our money to the party. The children lined up and we handed the money.  It was a lot of fun the children were so excited. At the end of the line,  I had 4 bills left 8,000 rupiah and i didn’t know what to do so I threw it up in the air oh did the kids love that!!

Our new friends

Our wonderful friend and her little red car.  She is an angel who does something kind for another person almost every day.  Especially with the use of her car which so few people own. She takes women to Dr. appointments, children to lessons, friends to anywhere and everywhere . Her name from me is “Angel”!

The siblings together

What a lovely home.  There are beautiful needlepoint art pieces everywhere “Angel” does!

Food and more food 

so precious 

FAMILY HISTORY

A very intense support area that we are doing right now is helping members register into lds.org and then to register in family history.  Family History is something we have found that everyone is interested in.  To be able to look at your family tree is important to all we meet.  Robert bought a little “hot spot” internet device so we can take his computer into a home and have the internet. "A good way to begin gathering information about our ancestors is to see what we have in our homes. We may have birth, marriage, or death certificates.  We may also find family Bibles etc.  In addition we can ask relatives for information they have.”

It has been very interesting for some families there may not even be a picture of a grandparent.  Others can produce photos that they have guarded for many years.  To photocopy and get these historical records into the computer program brings so much happiness to people.  This is a great support as we focus time in this area of interest for the members.  There is also a family history expert and a computer to use in each church building who can help members in a more detailed way than we can.  There actually is a senior couple on a mission in the Indonesia, Jakarta Mission and their entire focus is training family history consultants.  Our mission title is Member, leadership support so we do a little of everything.  

We can accomplish much more as we work together with other family members!  Think about what you can do to preserve your own family history!  xoxox

Week 24: Day Trip to Waterfall & Forest

This week we had some great fun with a church congregation and felt the love of missionary service. Location for day trip: Waterfall and Forest: Air Terjun Sri Gethuk Piyungan dan Hutan Pinus Becici

Tuesday May 29th was a National Buddist Anniversary Holiday and we traveled to a beautiful area with the Solo 2 Ward. Four buses traveled and a few cars. Our driver followed the buses. We left early in the morning and returned in the evening. We were very close to the Indian Ocean but in the downward side of the mountains for a waterfall adventure and a forest picnic. It was an incredible day and life experience for everyone in attendance.

Surakarta, Indonesia 

There are today twelve missionaries in our district which is a very high number. We ate lunch together after a training meeting which was a special opportunity and time. Two young men have completed their service and are on their way home. We feel such love and great unity amongst the missionaries and our purpose in the Indonesia Jakarta mission as in missions around the world 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 Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. There were 6 baptisms Sunday Juni 3. Acceptance of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and watching the transformation in the lives of others is wonderful to be part of in small ways. Ministering to others as people choose for themselves to accept Christ and His teachings is an amazing process. We love this work!

Fun for everyone

Five minute pontoon ride to the falls and swim and jumping location

Such a great day of fun! 

So beautiful!

Panorama 

Together Forever 

Fun for Children 

This is such a great video of the pontoon and music water feature!

Baptism

Ice Cream

Playground

Incredible Forest

Missionary District lunch at the Stake President's Warong

Special Javanese traditional desert made green from Banana leaves rice and very sweet

Javanese delicious food

Week 22 and 23: Solo our City & Ramadan

Here is a map of the city that we spend the majority of our time in. It is a large geographical area. We are so lucky to have a driver that drives us from one end of town and back then, criss-cross and back and forth without a complaint. This week we purchased the map to be able to get more of an idea where people live. In Utah we can always find the mountains and know exactly where we are.  The landmarks here are more subtle. Mt. Merape is most often hidden behind hazy warm skies. 

This day instead of walking, we waved for a quick ride  

We are experiencing 30 days of Ramadan in Indonesia. The Muslim people 360 days are called to prayer 5 times a day. It is a beautiful sound and often melodic. During Ramadan the faithful people participate in a daily fast from 4am to 6pm every day for 30 days. No Food and drink. This takes incredible faith and self discipline to not eat for 12 hours of daylight every day for 30 days. Even people that are in poor health desire to seek permission to fast from Drs. and Imam’s. This calendar year Ramadan is from May 16-June 16. There is a definite change as we go about our days as the bustling food street carts are mostly empty waiting for 6pm. These are photos of a family that prepare a cookie type crepe with chocolate or banana that they sell in small carts. During Ramadan they only sell in the evening.

We are respectful and do not drink or eat in front of others on the streets. There are cookies and food packaged in the stores for Ramadan holiday celebration for families when they gather and prepare and eat their meals at the end of the day. There is a huge day for a feast at the end of Ramadan 30 days something like Thanksgiving. Families gather from all ends of Indonesia to their hometowns and it is a national holiday. Where we live there are 10 floors of apartments and 15 floors of hotel rooms. Last night there was a large group of family and friends that had a great party around the outdoor swimming pool that lasted “Ramadan eating hours from 6pm until 4 am " with a huge TV screen watching soccer games and food and music all night long as they celebrated together. We watched out the window to see how much fun they were having. Shortly before daylight the party was over. Muslims do not drink alcohol, this party was festive with laughter, food, and music that included karoke participants.

There is a carriage that is a replica but still (150 years old) from the palace royalty outside our residence during Ramadan. There are traditional drums and music and banquets every night in the lobby that begin at 6pm for the fasting guests. 

We look forward to sharing more as we near the Lebaran “end day" of Ramadan.

Week 21: Safe & Secure in Surakarta

We will send just a short post today to let you all know that we are safe and secure here in our beautiful Surakarta. We have been instructed to remain in our apartment for a couple of days until things calm down a bit so I am writing while quarantined.  The bombings you have heard about in Indonesia happened about 130 miles from us in a very large city called Surabaya.  Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia behind Jakarta with a population of nearly four million people.  Surabaya is the capital city of the province of East Java.  

Solo, where we live, is about half way between Jakarta and Surabaya.  The previous mayor of Solo is now the President of the Country and while he was a leader here in Solo (the nickname for Surakarta) he really worked hard to preserve the identify of Solo as the cultural capital of Java.  Java is the largest and most populous island of Indonesia.  Javanese, as people from Java are called, have a very unique and rich culture of art, dance, lore and language.  Solo was the home of the King of central Java for hundreds of years so much of the culture originated here and many special schools exist to teach young people art and music of the traditional Javanese.  They often refer to traditional Javanese food, traditional Javanese songs, traditional Javanese musical instruments, traditional Javanese clothing, traditional Javanese puppets or traditional Javanese stories.  Much of the Javanese history is recorded in traditional Javanese art represented by interesting characters with long pointed noses and odd shaped bodies looking similar to what we in America might call “caricatures”.  Bright oranges, yellows, reds and lime greens are typically used.  

A young man that is studying with us comes from a long line of artists and he has a degree from an Art Institute here in Solo.  His pieces are usually large murals worth a great deal of money (by Indonesian standards).  I will include a small sample below.  This picture tells a story that unfortunately I cannot remember so you could probably just make one up and tell it to your children, which is probably what I would do if I were home.

His family were also designers of “batik” which is a word used to describe the patterns on fabric.  Most regions and cities in Java have their own unique patterns and colors; each style has a name and their are hundreds of them.  A collector, who has a museum just a few blocks from where we live can reportedly recognize and name all of them.  Over the years, Solo has become the center for the textile industry in Indonesia and while now manufacturing textiles of all kinds for sale all over the world, the design and production of batik fabric is centered in and around Surakarta. Three distinct quality levels have evolved for batik fabric.  

The most expensive batik is all hand made by artists who make their design on the fabric  then use melted wax contained in a small vessel that has a spout and is carefully and painstakingly applied to the fabric.  Each piece of fabric is made individually sometimes taking as much as 4-6 weeks to make a single piece.  When the wax is fully applied, the fabric is dipped into the colored dye and then the wax is melted off leaving the artists pattern on the fabric.  Solo batik has three colors, tan, white and black and all Solo batik is made of some combination of these colors with the pattern going from top right to bottom left.  

Each successive color requires a reapplication of wax and additional dips into the dye.  Traditionally, the King had a staff of professional designers and craftspeople that worked full-time making fabric for the King, his family and special members of the court.  The industry spread beyond the walls of the palace into the more common folk by developing brass stamps that enabled craftsmen to reproduce patterns over and over and make them more affordable for the common people. Now days patterns are simply printed on fabric in a wide variety of colors and modern designs but Solo is working hard to preserve the traditions of batik and trying to teach children the meaning of the traditional stories behind them.

Even modern dress styles retain a hint of the batik to them.  They had a small fashion show in the lobby of our apartments/hotel complex recently.

Sister Miller and I are very fortunate to live here in Solo.   I do believe that the efforts to preserve Javanese Culture here in Solo have contributed somewhat to way of life more resistant to what we are seeing in larger cities like Jakarta and Surabaya.  The political and spiritual leaders throughout Indonesia are aggressively working to push back efforts to bring undesirable elements from countries in the Middle East and we pray for the people we are learning to love so much that they are successful.

Sister Miller would never do this but here is what I lounge in now while in our apartment. :)  It is called a “Sarung”.

Elder and Sister Miller

Week 20: “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:39

I am certain we have always known this statement by Christ to be true but never  before in our married lives have we been freed from life’s burdens to focus exclusively on others. I remember this feeling from when I was a 19 and 20-year-old missionary in Berkeley and San Francisco, but from the day I was released in December, 1972, the daily necessities of getting an education, building a great marriage, having and raising children, nurturing a career, providing for my family
and serving in the church consumed all of our time.

It’s a wonderful blessing to be able to devote our time exclusively here in Central Java, Indonesia to thinking only about others. When we think about what it took to create the conditions where this is now possible we realize that it only happened with many years of planning and preparation. We have been blessed to have great children that are supportive and self-reliant. We had great employers that provided great experiences and wonderful church leaders that helped provide opportunities for us to develop and strengthen our faith.

This week we spent several days preparing a presentation for the young missionaries in Central Java on how to rescue a choking victim with critical life techniques we all need to know in the case of a life-threatening emergency. Neither Sister Miller or I are professionally trained in this field but we are good researchers, learners and willing teachers. We put together a fun workshop, taught it to the young missionaries and have been asked to do it again next week in Jakarta for another group in West Java.

This week we assisted in a discussion presented by another senior missionary couple for people interested in family history research. Documenting family history in Java is substantially complicated. Names have few standards. Many people do not have a last name and others take on the last names of other people they select for a variety of reasons. Like everywhere else, people love their families and making the effort to document family stories and a family tree “turns the hearts of the children to their fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children”. We will continue in the coming months to find ways to support local members in this important work.

Teaching a new member and two investigators how to research their ancestors on "Family Search" the church's database of now billions of individual records

The highlight of the week was a two-day church stake conference for Central Java. Members from Semarang, Magelang, Yogyakarta and Surakarta all met at the Novotel Hotel Ballroom in the city of Solo. It is good to feel the strength of numbers. A choir of about thirty young men and women on tour from Brigham Young University came and gave a one-hour devotional prior to the beginning of the conference. This was exciting and wonderful for everyone to listen to the beautiful harmonies of well-trained voices. We heard speakers from our Stake including an area leader of the church from India who was assigned to speak at our conference. Along with the young missionaries, it was great to share this Sunday session of conference together with many, many friends and investigators.

A sister who lost her husband in an accident. Her son takes piano lessons from sister Miller

A wonderful three generation family 

The man on the right is the recent convert with the new leg and everyone to his left he has recently introduced to the church. Two of them hope to be baptized this month. 

This is Elder Williams, an area church leader from India that presided at our conference. He was a mission president's councilor to a man that was my first mission companion when we were both young missionaries serving in California in 1971. 

I had to include this week a picture for my good friend Greg Wahl. Every where we go we see Wahl clippers hanging from the countertops in shops. This picture is from in the small shop of a member in their home. Everyone loves Wahl Clippers in this country!

We are grateful for this special time in our lives that we can focus on learning to better minister to the needs of others. We love the Lord, our family, the people in Indonesia and all our friends.

Week 19: "ELDER MILLER YOU MADE ME VERY HAPPY TODAY"

The Highlight this week was an activity we presented at the Muslim Boarding School.  Our Topic was “It Begins With You”.  Our goal for each child at the school was to fill their mind and spirit with self esteem and happiness with who they are.

Our driver laughed when he picked us up at 6 AM he said that we looked like we were packed to travel to America.  We had 3 large suitcases. One was filled with our printer and supplies, another was filled with 50  thin decorative bricks, permanent markers,  plus cookies for a minute to win it game. The third and smallest suitcase held our personal items to stay overnight to attend a branch in Magelang.

What a day!!!  Three Elders helped us translate and we began by taking a photo of each child.  I can say that I believe there were many there that do not have a photo of them self.  In fact, maybe, have never had a photo ever of themselves.   Elder Miller  printed two color photos for each child right on site.  We  played cookie face. Elder Miller and I taught and shared activities that illustrated to the students simple principles and how to recognize the many positive character attributes that they all possess.  Each of the children decorated their own brick to keep  with their name and at least one positive word on the back that described them. Three girl students prepared us a beautiful traditional lunch of rice, tempe, and vegetables that they raise on the grounds of the school. They eat fish every 25 days and saute chicken once a year.  As we left one boy ran to Robert and looked in his eyes and said  “Elder Miller you made me very happy today”. Our objective was accomplished!!!  Enjoy the photos and look at their eyes and faces!!!.

Bricks with names & positive attributes

Activities at the boarding school 

Muslim School 

Hari Kartini Day  Wow What a great day for Women!!! Hari Kartini died in 1904 and she emancipated women.  Her name and her achievements in the area of education for girls and women’s rights are celebrated by the women in Indonesia on April 21, and it is a powerful day of sharing for women.  There are celebrations centered around that date.  Here are photos of how women and their families share their traditions and cultures  which are different depending on the tribe and islands where they live. They promote education and rights of women.   I told my friends that next year Elder Miller and I will come and celebrate the day in traditional Solo batik!

Hari Kartini

Culture and Traditions 

Elder Miller at Mt. Merape (in museum) 

Mt. Merape and Mt. Merbabu. Two active volcanoes. Driving between them on Ketap pass road on our way home. 

91 year old church member 

Elegant wife of 91 year old member in Malagang