Tidbits of Information

Our YSAs at swim and pizza party!!! Dad took the picture. Our group[ is getting smaller.

Our visit with Sis. Helen and her family. Her kids are so good and polite. The baby is YEE!

This is the seminary kids who came for a swim party. I fed the cookies and ice cream and their teacher, Sis. Maylin brought sardine sandwiches for their treats!!!!

This is the Ng family--Bro. Francis, counselor in the Branch Presidency, Sis. Susan, his wife, and You Min, their 8 year old son. We put him right to sleep with our discussion.

I don't seem to remember what I have written and have not written. That's what happens when you wait so long between entries. Also, we seem to be very busy with our schedule lately. Sundays are always busy and hectic. We have early meeting before church on every Sunday except one. So we usually have to be there by 8:30 am. I now teach a teacher development class on Sundays and I'm actually able to do it without an interpreter. Practically everyone understands enough English to get by and I also have the same manuals in Indonesian which everyone understands. I love the class and the 4 or 5 faithful students who come every Sunday seem to really enjoy. This is a wonderful course that's in the back of Teaching, No Greater Call. By having them do lots and lots of participation, the level of understanding seems really successful.

Every Thursday and Friday we go out with the missionaries to teach the 8 follow-up lessons that we're suppose to teach. We have tried to do this ever since we arrived here, but it was so frustrating trying to use a taxi and members to help. We always had a conflict of schedules. Since these new missionaries have arrived we have worked out a wonderful routine. We go with the elders on Thursday nights and have actually finished 2 families and have seen some that we were never able to see before!! YEA! On Fridays, we go with the sisters and have finished our visits with 4 families. I feel as though we are finally accomplishing some of the responsibilities that are ours as missionaries. The sisters have already given us 3 new families to start teaching. We love going in the homes of some of the members and getting to know them outside of church. It so helps me appreciate them in a way as never before.

The last 2 Saturdays have been dedicated to swim parties here at our apartment. Last Saturday, we had the Seminary students over for ice cream and cookies and swimming. They had such a good time. They have been out of school for 2 week break. They had helped me put together 30 Book of Remembrances and I told them that I would treat them to swimming. They love my chocolate chip cookies and asked if I would fix them some. OF COURSE!!

Yesterday was another Saturday holiday, so we invited our YSAs for pizza and swimming. It was the King of Malaysia's birthday. They actually have a holiday for this--no work for them!! The guys had fun swimming, but none of the girls would get in the water!! Bummer!! On the way down to the pool, I fell and hurt my back. It was as if I had stepped on a banana peel and my feet went right out from under me--just like in a funny movie!! I sat right down on the hard cement. It was like being in a car wreck. You know how your back jams up? I know that you remember that, Kathie. It immediately became so tight and stiff that I could barely walk back to the apartment. Sis. Jenson is a nurse and she really helped me. I didn't go to church today because I could not sit in those metal seats for 3 hours. People have been calling us all afternoon and we have had 2 sets of visitors. So sweet!!

I have used the time today lying down to prepare a class that Dad and I are doing for Youth Conference next week. We are training the leaders on "Commitment". Hope it goes well. We went on Friday and bought all of our supplies for the 2 meals that I'm to prepare for youth conference. I think that Pres. Ling was really worried today that I won't be able to do this. Actually my back is loosening up already. Our YSA priesthood holders helped Dad give me a blessing yesterday after I fell. They do not use their priesthood very often for instances like this so it was good for them.

We will be a Youth Conference for 3 long days this week and the following week, we are going out of town for 4 days with water specialists from Utah. We are traveling to a couple of different cities with them. I look forward to meeting them. After they leave, we have to go to immigration and get an extension on our visa so that we can go to a Seniors Conference in Singapore next month. I really look forward to that. How fun and helpful for us to share ideas and learn from each other. In a mission, seniors are sometimes overlooked for instruction and training--something we really need sometimes.

I'll try to add a few pictures and they will probably go to the beginning of the posting because I can't figure how to put them where I want them to go. Here goes.... yep they went right to the top!!!

I'm tired and my back hurts so I'm signing off. I love you so much.....you are the reason I'm here!!

MOM & DAD