Going up, going down and going all around

Jonathon Kester from Utah married Sonia from Solo.  Since we were in town for other reasons and Sonia's family invited us, we attended the Javanese style reception.  After we arrived and got situated in the audience of a couple of hundred people we were approached by Bishop Catur.  He explained that since the grooms family weren't in attendance the stand looked imbalanced and asked us to sit in the position of the grooms parents.  Old white folks to the rescue.  So we went up and met the groom for the first time, then proceeded to greet everyone coming across the stage for photos with the newlyweds.   At first it felt awkward, then it just became fun.  We did look out of place dressed in western clothes.  Without direct access to professionals photos, this is what you get.    

During a trip to Solo for a Priesthood Leadership meeting we stopped by Bishop Catur's beautiful home.  Their daughter Monique is already off to the MTC in the Philippines, but Catur and Irma  are so excited they had a poster of her made for the living room.  Sister Jeffery was trying to measure up to this new missionary.  

The next morning we attended a seminary and institute teacher training
meeting at the church.  Somehow we got in, but all the airconditioner
controls were locked in the bishop's office.  Finally some cool air.  Of
course we started with drinks, then a box with a meal inside.  The
Indonesian church runs on food.

Brother Simanungkalit came from Jakarta to teach us.  His son has been one of our Yogyakarta missionaries.  

Less than an hour after eating the box meal we all walked to a
close-by restaurant for more food.  The sister in the orangish shirt,
Endang Prihatini was the first Indonesian that Mel baptized on his
 first mission in 1974.  She's been teaching seminary and institute
for about 30 years.  Some of the teachers in the room are her
former students.

The afternoon agenda was lighter though with only a bite of ice cream.

Seminary and Institute graduation for the four Solo wards.  They actually hold seminary four days a week and are going to attempt it this year early morning.  I think early morning seminary is great.  Early morning is the Holy Ghost's favorite time of day.  But we will be helping in Jodja and the kids are very spread out.  So they study at home and only meet together once a week.  We're hoping to have the English class for a bit before class.  Julie usually teaches with games so it shouldn't wear them out before class starts.

Of course Mel had to fit in a basketball
game and Pres. Joko took him to  the
local court in the park.

Sunday morning we left our accommodations at the Red Planet hotel headed for Yogya in a
taxi.  Next leg was the train.  Right the guard watches ticket taker make sure everyone is legal.
Of course everyone is in their own world, texting, drinking from an envelope, and getting sick
We walked from the train station about a mile to church.

After church we headed home first on an inter city bus.
Sister Wartini and Dede enjoying the back row
of seats with Sister J.
Remember the back row is where all of the
rowdies sit.

Next we boarded an intercity bus.  On this beast we had five
occasions when guitar players and singers boarded to
share their talents for a few pennies.

Not a lot of leg room for this American,
Mel stood as often as polite to do so.

Last leg home on an angkut, really small bus.  But very friendly
So on all the buses we gave out pass along cards and invited
others to Facebook at Mormon Jawa Tengah.

 Baby Ciara is enjoying the blanket
Sister Jeffery made.  

Ani and her three, little girls are still in Magelang.   

We spent an evening teaching Tian again.  This time the lesson was about following the prophet.  He wrote all the counsels he knew of the prophet on the footsteps then walked on them as they led him to Jesus Christ.  Sister Jeffery scores another fine lesson even though she didn't have to personally speak a word of Bahasa.

Sister Jeffery took her favorite pair of shoes to the man on the corner and he glued and sewed them up right for 75 cents. So Joey, when you come next month bring shoes you need fixed.  We got the man here to do it right.

On preparation day we decided to attack Mt Merapi.
We drove to New Selo, hiked the first kilometer, just about
straight up to the national park.  It was another 2 hours to the
peak , but we didn't go on.  A hiker recently fell into the crater
while taking a selfie, so we weren't allowed to go to the summit.
But the photo here on the right is to testify that we
survived the hike and made it home dirty but intact.
And yes, we hiked in missionary attire.

The trail was steep  and the locals were
hauling loads of harvested green plants on their heads
just to humble us.
They don't use switch backs because it uses too much farmland. 

Elder Jeffery and Elder Hymas read the signs.  We went 10 minutes further up, but then began the steep decent down.  Sister Jeffery had the toughest time and fell several times.  At some points she just rode the dust for a while.  Then Elder Zollinger lost his footing too.  As he fell he stuck his hand onto something that punctured it.  Fortunately Nurse Jeffery was there to wrap things up.  As she cleaned and wrapped the punctured hand, Elder Zollinger was talking to the mission president about upcoming transfers of assignments.  He will be leaving soon to go to Bekasi, a city near Jakarta.

Hendrik is the new member that was recently called to teach the youth Sunday School class which right now is comprised of one young lady, Lili.  He did a fine job, Elder Jeffery sat in on the lesson.  A week later though he panicked when we were gone, so another Elder stepped in for moral support.  We've found ourselves visiting Hendrik's home and talking to his mother somewhat regularly. She's an enterprising woman and Sister's friend.  The conversations always turn to gospel topics, because that is what we think about a lot these days.  This week it ended up being faith and chastity. Big topics but a sweet discussion together.

The YSAs joined us for Family Home Evening which we spent teaching them Primary songs to help Andre in his new calling as Primary Chorister.  He's been a member for less than a month, so all the songs are new to him and he doesn't read music.  He is an enthusiastic singer though and tough enough to handle the rowdy boys. 

New Beginnings for the Young Women was held at our house too, but both the girls mothers were sick that afternoon.   Sister Jeffery ended up showing Anita, Deborah (YW President), and Lili photos on the computer.  Then we all played the Happy Game and Pit while we waited for rides to come.

The Moslem holiday, Idul Fitri, celebrates the end of a month of fasting, but it's pretty much a national holiday much like Christmas in America.  So even the Church puts up a banner exclaiming "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints expresses Happy Idul Fitri day"  and some other stuff I can't translate.

These pictures show the church building where we worship.  We are hoping to get another building next year, but meanwhile they needed some pictures to put on the application, so we took these.  Notice the hall with Sister where our two classrooms are located.  And this kitchen, bathroom, custodians closet, stairs area handles about 30 - 40 of us for a meal after meetings each Sunday.  Yes, the Church here runs on food and this is our "cultural hall"  We often think  'love grows in small spaces'.  Isn't that a line from an old Country Western Song?