Week 41: Experiences Supporting the Elderly

Some of the tender moments of our ministering in the Jakarta Indonesia Mission is with the Elderly.  The sweet Sister in the photo lives in a Kos which is a tiny sleeping room with a community bath room and area for cooking.  This is a newer room that she has moved to.  She was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 11 August of 1979.  She was born 1 September 1937.  Every Sunday she comes to church for 40 years.  Her smile is ever lasting when you meet her.  She has very little to offer a guest to eat and offers everything she has when we visit. 

 In April 2019 she will travel with our Church group to the Manila Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple.  She has waited and dreamed about this experience.  Elder Miller and I will visit and teach her and share with her in preparation for this travel and will accompany the group to the temple.  When we visit the Kos and talk in the area outside her sleeping room, it is new tile floor and she rolls out a very special straw mat for us to sit on and visit.  A very gracious hostess to her visitors.  She often walks over an hour to church. She is very energetic and has a beautiful dispostion.   She will look us in the eyes and talks so happily and speaks with a speed of  a hundred miles an hour in Bahasa Indonesia and Javanese!  We understand her words of happiness without understanding her language but we feel her message and spirit as she speaks. What a joy.

The elderly brother in the photo has another gigantic smile and the same desire to travel with us in April after waiting for many many years for this opportunity. When we met first with him in his home,  he lives in the same home that he was born in.  He is over 80 years old.  The home has been re-built a few times.  Just entering into his home told us many stories about his life.  The walls were painted and defined in simple  but lively colors and specific lines and separations; one yellow, one blue, one pink and in my opinion it is an artistic statement with a hand paint brush.  Most of the paint is not of high quality that cover the walls.   We felt happy the moment we stepped in the door with two young Elders.  Every brick shape on the exterior of the home was individually hand painted yellow. 

 He showed us the beginnings of his written recording of his family history.  He has the names of his parents and his children accurately recorded. . He doesn’t know the names of his grandparents, where they were born, or where they died but everything he knows he has recorded in the most beautiful neatly done handwriting I have ever seen. His printing was like the beautiful walls in his home.  His wife died many years ago and he does not have a photograph of her.  We talked about that disappointment and we suggested before we meet again he write in words a description of his wife’s physical appearance and about her personality for his memories in “Family Search”.  He was thrilled with this challenge. 

As we look around we see creative things that bring happiness in the lives of those we meet. Our lives are changed by the pure experiences we have meeting some of the wonderful elderly people in Indonesia.

Week 40: TRAVELING TO SEMARANG and an EXAMPLE OF THE SISTER MISSIONARY COMPANIONSHIP

There are so many different places that we visit.  Semarang is a city located on the north Coast of the Java Sea.   Semarang is the capital and largest city of Central Java and province in Indonesia.  During the church meeting the theft siren kept going off on the Van and after having to disconnecting the siren ultimately the car would not start.  We had so many wonderful men trying to help us resolve the issue.  Elder Miller was trying really hard to read the owners manual in Indonesian which was not going well ha ha.  Then he tried to google how to reset the anti theft engine mobilization system.  Finally we were able to get a Toyota mobile service help and they gave us a battery jump and off we went back to Solo.  There is actually a toll way between Semarang and Solo and it it the only drive so far that we have experienced that has a similar feel to roads in the United States.

These two Indonesia Missionary Sisters in Semarang are examples of an amazing companionship of self confident, courageous self-less women.  They have innate GPS systems in their minds. Riding bikes in dresses they can find any address because they know how the Indonesian streets and villages are organized. They are fearless in the traffic with motorcycles swerving all around them.    They bike in the hot weather and the rain and you see them soaked from either the rains or sweat from the  high heat.  They understand the culture and traditions.  They help to teach all the American and other missionaries not native to Indonesia about their people. They can cook the most amazing tasty dinners from absolutely slim ingredients because they have learned how to make the best out of what they have!!  Everyone adores their smiles and these two Sisters are filled with the desire to share the message of the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with those that choose to listen.  They serve others.  They comfort the sick.  They mourn with those that mourn..  The Sister on the left was baptized for exactly  one year the month that she entered her assignment to serve as a full time missionary in the Jakarta Indonesia mission.  As they  both serve they are instructed with the admonition to study daily and learn the English language which will help lift them personally into the school and work environment when they return to their homes when their service is finished.  Missionary service is an incredible priviledge and we watch the development of important character attributes every day! 

Week 39: The World’s Most Famous Volcano Mt Krakatau

October 22, 2018 

In 1883 Krakatau “colored the skies worldwide for more than a year".  We had a Senior Couple Retreat this last week at Anyer Beach about 2 1/2 hours travel south west from Jakarta.  One activity we shared was we traveled by boat out in the middle of the Indian Ocean and circled around one of the many famous volcanoes Mt. Krakatau. The original island of Krakatau was vaporized in 1883 in a series of catastropic explosions heard as far away as Alice Springs in Australia. In 1928 the island was reborn emerging from the seas as “Anak Krakatau” or Child of Krakatau.  It continues to grow and it was fascinating. She proved herself active as we saw two separate huge bursts of bellowing smoke shoot out from the crater as we circled as close as allowed and it was amazing!  It is surrounded by other smaller islands fragments of the explosions.  We had a wonderful guide who shared lots of information and it was a wonderful trip.

There is another famous Indonesian volcano that is written about in the new history book “Saints” published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is closer to Bali.  It is named “ Mt Tambora”.  I don’t know if we will travel there while we are here. We hope so.   In 1815,  a series of shattering explosions literally blew the mountain apart. Mt Tambora was the site of the most catastrophic eruption in recorded history with tens of thousands died during the eruption and in the famines which followed, and the debris created spectacular sunsets and disastrous harvests around the world-there were food riots throughout Europe as a result in 1816.  What a wonderful exciting and interesting “Ring of Fire" that we are living in amongst volcanos and earthquakes!

The Palu earthquake and tsunami continues to reveal terrible destruction and many many many deaths! 

We spent many hours with 5 other Senior Couples who have also interrupted their retirement years to spend 18-23 months serving here in Indonesia.  We were with the Mission President and his wife to spiritually strengthen each other and share the different ways in which we each minister and serve in our various assignments throughout the mission. We discussed teaching the English Language, water projects, and small efficiency farming.  Many missionaries are serving in leadership assignments, supporting the accuracy of record keeping, Family History, Young Women Leaders, Bishopric assignments.  There is equally much service with the young missionaries, fellowship of friends and small congregations, service projects, temple preparation lessons, strengthening families in the gospel of Jesus Christ, public affairs, visiting the sick, the elderly,  and the list goes on.    We left with many new insights and love for all the missionaries and service in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission.

Elder Miller and I traveled from Solo to Jakarta by train.  It took us 8 1/2 hours. We enjoyed seeing the rice fields, the country side, the homes and the people as we looked out the window.   We returned home to Solo by airplane and that took one hour!  Of course, we were so happy to return home to our tiny comfy apartment and return to our work here in Solo!! 

 

On the train and a little friend sitting in front of us could not stay awake!  Even looking at the beautiful rice fields!!

Volcano……”Anak Mt Krakatau”. The boat ride out and back took 5 hours into the Indian ocean.   It was quite the adventure.  This volcano put on a show for us and it was very exciting!!!  The most distressing was the condition of the boat.  A  young man by hand was pumping fuel to both engines the entire trip! This is not America for sure!! Everything has been repaired over and over again and the cosmetics are not important but they seem to fix it up and make it do!  

Our guide was great.  We had a great fish BBQ and enjoyed a snack upon arrival back to the hotel. A great Senior Missionary Meeting at Anyer Beach.

Week 38: More photos..

Week 38: Photos Continued...

Week 38: A Glimpse of Our Days with Missionaries, Friends, Teaching, and Different Foods

October 13, 2018

This week we will share some wonderful photo moments.  Food choices from a street cart, a juice business of some friends, and Indonesian green beans cooked at home.  The women are elderly friends from church, four singing missionaries and friendly homes with people that we are invited to visit.  English class has begun for police.  This week we had 5 police students. A very nice young man has a nice salon and cut my hair. Elder Miller was so sad this week when the only store in Solo that sells Diet Coke …the shelves were empty!! Ha ha   Elder Miller pretends and sits on a good friends “ motto “ dreaming because our rules allow us only on foot or with our driver ha ha. Enjoy these few glimpses of friends and experiences that fill our days in the city of Solo.  When we spend time with others we recognize it is a privilege to be senior missionaries in Indonesia.

Week 37: The Ring of Fire and Earthquakes

September 30^th 2018

We did not feel the earthquake in Palu.  The closest missionaries in the mission serve in the city of Manado on the NE tip of Sulawesi close to the Philippines. They are all safe.  We are broken hearted for the tragedy and loss of life and infrastructure in the Palu area on the island of Sulawesi. Palu is in the center and actually at the end of an inlet so Indonesians were taken by surprise, without warning, that a tsunami traveling at such a high speed would funnel down this inlet. Look carefully on the map and find the large island of Java.  We live in central Java; Surakarta.  Living in the “Ring of Fire” is an area of the world where we watch our earthquake app often.

These photos capture Elder Miller searching the many islands of Indonesia with our friend trying to locate exactly where this huge earthquake had just hit as news reports were streaming in and what precautions, if any we needed to take.  The map helped us realize we were very far and why we did not feel any shaking.

There is still much chaos and unknowns by authorities determining the total loss of life and damage. Tragic! Please pray with us for the people and country of Indonesia.

Week 36: Transparent Soap “Runner-Up”!!!

September 24, 2018 

A Highlight this week was service that we were asked to provide at a Catholic High School here in Solo.  There was a 16 year-old girl who had prepared a presentation on three types of transparent soap, for a science fair competition to be held in the community.  Robert and I met one of the School’s Board Members at a restaurant one evening and he asked if we could help on occasions with their students and their English studies at his school.  We told him to call us any time and if we were available we would be happy to help.  They called and asked us to listen and critique a bright science student’s English grammar and pronunciation before she competed.  It was a lot of fun.  We spent 5 hours over two days helping her.  What an amazing young girl. Some of the difficult science terms we clarified.  One of the “funniest” word substitutions was her describing the soap as a hair “fertilizer”.  We helped her change the word to hair “moisturizer”.

She did the entire translation on google translate.  She was so willing to be corrected on some difficult pronunciations for a Native Indonesian speaking English.  She was amazing!  She placed first runner up! We were so proud of her hard work and determination.

Student second from left

School Head Master and teacher

We have the most amazing experiences each week as we serve in Indonesia! 

Week 35: Part II, Sites in Old Manila and Corrigador Island

They haven’t yet buried the power lines in the old part of Manila!

The old walled city of Intramuros

Corregidor Island

These are the enlisted men’s barracks that housed thousands of soldiers at the beginning of the second world war but were vacated when McArthur surrendered the Philippines to Japan and then was bombed relentlessly. McAurthur made his great and promised “return” to retake the Islands near the end of the war.  Many thousands of Americans lost their lives on this tiny and strategic island right at the entrance of Manila bay.

Artillery used to target ships entering the harbor.

Cannon to “lob” shells over the lip of the island and onto the mainland.

A re-enactment of Japanese underground offices in tunnels that protected soldiers from bombs.

Week 35: The Millers go to Manilla

It’s hard to imagine but we are now technically half way through our 18-month mission. Sadly, we are not yet fluent in Bahasa Indonesian but we regularly add a few words to our vocabulary and find ourselves more and more often communicating basic ideas to the people that we meet. This past week we had a bit of a reality check when we took a trip with some of the members of our church to Manila. When we heard the people in the Philippines speaking Tagalog and we understood not a word, we were encouraged to realize just how much we do understand in our home Indonesian language.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we believe it is essential for us to make and keep covenants with God that we will do our best to live lives like he taught us in the scriptures. These covenants are very sacred and we can receive two in special buildings we call temples and all for our ancestors who have already died. Unfortunately, the church in Indonesia is not yet large enough to have a temple so faithful members prepare themselves at least once in their lives to visit the closest temple, which is in Manila.

Sister Miller and I since arriving in Indonesia have helped prepare this years attendees to prepare for this deeply personal and spiritual experience. The following pictures capture some of the feelings these members for each other and the temple.

    

Manila Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Three wonderful older gentlemen that have become great friends and a young mother of 6 who lost her husband this past year.

This group is from a city about three hours from Solo called Magelang.

This man and his wife waited for many years to make this trip.

This young man and his wife have a young son who came with them to share in the experience

This couple was married the week before in the church and had a special ceremony that we believe sealed their marriage for eternity.

This young girl accompanied her family to Manila.