Visit to Sembulon

The Saturday after we returned from Budok Bui, our branch Relief Society had our monthly meeting.  In conjunction with the YW, we went to Sembulon.  That is an area downtown KK where there is a home for abandoned and challenged children.  Sis. Lowe, a sister missionary serving in Miri, was still visiting with us; so she and I went with the Relief Society to make our visit.  Sis Lowe has her driver's license and knows how to drive here in Malaysia.  She drove our car.  Dad stayed home with her companion, Sis. Clark.  Sis. Clark is the Mission President's Mom.  She is amazing!  She is 85 years young!  She is serving her 6th mission!  She went to Singapore last month for a visa run and ended up in the hospital for surgery.  She recuperated with her son for 10 days while there.  She then came back to Miri for a few days before heading out to the temple in Manila with a family to be sealed in the temple.  That's why she and Sis. Lowe were here with us.  They had a layover in KK, so decided to spend a few extra days here and see KK.  We so enjoyed having them.  I will admit that I was concerned for her health.  I just prayed that nothing bad happened while she was here.  Not to worry--she is an amazing woman.  She reminds me of the strength that my Mom had.  Oh, I forgot to tell you that when she got back to Miri from her surgery in Singapore, she tumbled down a flight of stairs in her apartment.  She had no broken bones, just some bad bruises.  She rested while they were here.  She is a dedicated missionary sister.  She taught me how to really study the scriptures.
Anyway Sister Lowe and I went downtown Saturday afternoon.  We went to the handicraft markets and shopped and looked a lot.  I bought some sea water pearls--earrings for all you girls and a couple of necklaces.  Sis. Lowe helped me decide if they were genuine.  We also bought some fabrics.  Beautiful colors.  That reminds me of a sticker that I saw on the back of a car coming home from church today.  It said that "Jesus brings color to my life".  How true.
We met up with Kate and followed her to Sembulon.  A very touching experience, especially for the YW.  Here are a few pics---

This is our group with some of the "angels" who work there.  All of the children in this picture have been abandoned by their families.  There are other children who attend this facility during the week but do go home to family on the weekends.

This is Kolinting, Sebastian's Mother, holding a little boy who was left at the doors of a mosque and when he was found, he had ants all in his eyes and mouth.  He just loves being held!  Kolinting has 7 grown children and  held this little boy almost the whole time we were there.  The little girl beside her has cerebal palsey.  She cannot walk.

These are some of our YW.  They were so great with these children, they sang, talked, and played with the children.

This is Sis. Lowe and me with the children..The young boy in the red chair is autistic.  I wish I had a pic of a little boy who was very mobile and all over the place.  Every time he came by Sis. Lowe, he spit on her--no one else, just her! Sis Lowe is a widow from Salt Lake.  This is her 2nd mission.  She is the most energetic person I know.  As Sis. Clark says, "She is a doer of the word, and not just a hearer".  She just jumps right in and makes things happen.  I am glad that I met her and can now call her my friend.  She has 6 children with 5 married--just like us.  She has a 35 year old son in Salt Lake who isn't married.  She was very interested in our Kellie!!  Don't worry, Kellie, I didn't do anything!

This is pic of some of supplies that R. Society gave to the home--snacks, drinks, pampers, used clothing for kids, etc.
One of their patients is 47 years old.  Her parents had her until she was 9 years old and her Mom died.  The dad brought her to the home because he could no longer take care of her and work.  She is now 47.  She is totally bedridden and almost immobile.  She looks like she may be 18 years old.
All of the children were very clean and very well taken care of.  I asked the head nurse if Humanitarian Services could help with equipment.  She says that they would love a whirlpool tub for exercising,  but it is beyond our Area Budget.  It would not qualify for a Major Initiative in our work.

Today was District Conference and it was a great weekend of meetings.  We also had Zone Conference on Friday.  Sisters Clark and Lowe got back from the temple on Friday and went out to dinner with us and all of the Senior Missionary Couples.  So nice!!
I'll go now. and get ready for another wonderful week in East Malaysia.

We have been asked by the mission Pes. to prepare a vidio of our KK branch council meeting as a tool to teach the other branches in Malaysia. Just 10 minutes covering the topic "how can we improve Sacrament attendance,spirituality and feel the spirit in our meetings". We are in the process of preparing the questions to be discussed and the area presidency feel tha our branch is the strongest and most capable of doing this. We are excited and especially the auxilliary heads, to know they will become vidio stars!

We go to Singapore the last of the month to renew our visas and then will be planning 2-3 trips to followup on our projects.

We think of all of you often but also realize that the other couples as well as the regular missionaries left their families behind to serve here. We have full faith that Heavenly Father will watch over and provide for each of you and your families, much better than we could. Thanks for all of your prayers in our behalf and the blog and pictures you send make our week!

Love:

Mom & Dad