We are in the End Times

 Here we are again in that same uncertain phase we've been in 3 times before on this multi-country mission. " Do we buy another bag of oatmeal before we leave"? "Honey, don't spread so much PB on your toast and this jar will get us to the end". Suddenly without warning, our credit cards have started acting up and denying taxi payments and grocery purchases when they've been steady and reliable the whole time. Gah! Our computer, which was quirky and unreliable to begin with, is now slower and more unresponsive and has about had it's last day. Oh how it likes to spin and spin like an ancient LP record on a  turntable. We are experiencing the trials and tribulations of the End Times! And time seems to slow down when you start anticipating  something, no? We've seen on social media most of our original MTC group and several of the Wisa Vaiters complete their missions before us. It still feels unreal it's going to be us soon enough. We're in a similar situation as we were in India with a good friend getting very near to being baptized. You may recall Joel and his baptism being two days before we left India. Sister Lee here has already said as much that she wants to be baptized. She said so at her son's baptism in May. But as of our knowledge, she's only had the 1st discussion, possibly the 2nd one this week. So we are starting to assume we will miss being a part of her "rebirth" day. Rats. But no matter, this happens all the time in mission circumstances due to transfers. We're just glad to know it will happen whether we're here for it or not. While we are waiting for the formal lessons to happen with the young elders, the Levesques invited Sister Lee's family and the Rorings and us to their home for an after-Sunday meal. It was honestly the best of both worlds- Sister L's sweet and sour chicken and rice, potato salad, cole slaw and chocolate chip cookies and Sister Lee's chapchae and kimpop. Let's call it Koreamerican cuisine! 

Everybody got to bring their companion to the party. Even Jeremy got to invite his best friend Kai from the ward. 

     They speak the cutest English to each other  

        Practicing bird calls, their 2nd language 

We contributed by bringing watermelon and a Family Home Evening lesson. Because Sister Lee is in the beginning experimentation of planting the seed of faith in her heart, we used the sermon of Alma to the Zoramites as the object lesson. We gave Jeremy seeds and soil to plant a seed to see if it will grow along with his mother's faith, to see what will happen if they will both nourish and tend to the seed they've planted. Sister Lee was touched by something that was said and she cried and gave a sweet testimony herself. She is praying and has stopped drinking coffee which shows she is doing her part and serious about her conversion. There was lots of love and the Holy Spirit too as others bore their testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel and their love for their Savior and the Book of Mormon. 

    

                               Love at Home

                    Jeremy in perpetual pucker

                            United in faith

Another cherished experience happened this week. Brother Hiresh the artist, who I've introduced to you before, invited us to come to the HELP school. An apt name. This is a school for refugee children run by volunteer refugees themselves. No one, including Brother Hiresh is making any salary at this school. In fact it costs them quite a bit in transportation to even get to the school. They are all in the same situation; students and teachers both displaced in Indonesia unable to hold real jobs but doing amazing things with the meager donated funds they have to work with. Days before we came, he and the young energetic principal Zaki took an otherwise blank wall and made homemade bulletin boards for hanging announcements and artwork on. I admire their resourcefulness and can-do spirit!

The Volunteers who could use some volunteers  of their own. 

                When life hands you scraps...

                       create something useful

When we arrived a few days later, it happened to be Parent's Day/ Report Card Day combined so we got to observe the students, their parents, and the teachers. Everyone was cordial and friendly towards us. All the teachers spoke English, the parents, not so much. I counted 40+ children but learned this was only K-2. Because the building is so small, they hold primary grades in the morning and grades 3-6 in the afternoon and online classes for older children all throughout the day. I wanted so much to take pictures of the bright and darling children and the incredible teachers but was not given permission to do so except at the very end before we left, a couple of pictures during one art class. 

Wasn't art always the funniest part of the school day?

               Making due with limited space

If there was ever a time we wished we were independently wealthy, this was it. Never was there a happier group of people doing the best they could with so little! Could we just beam the whole lot of them up to Zion where there is no poor among us? It was inspiring, it was joyful, but it was a little bit sad and humbling too, knowing how much we take for granted in our abundant life, the blessing of education. We were wishing we had the means to make their lives and their school a whole lot better. We did promise them that we'd have the Humanitarian missionaries of our church come for a visit and see if there were improvements and projects they could fund for the school. The Levesques are always on the lookout for worthwhile projects. They keep busy visiting villages and writing up proposals to get grants for clean water and child nutrition projects. We know they can't give cash donations of any kind which is probably what this school needs most of all but who knows, maybe they can provide books and supplies, or computers, or build a 2nd floor for more space. It behooves all of us to donate our excess to worthy causes like the Humanitarian Funds of the Church or other organizations where you know your dollars are actually going to the people and causes who need it. Our attitude towards many things has completely changed because of our mission experience. My hope is that we don't get back to American culture and revert back to our old ways of thinking about things. Of course we were a bit counter-culture and odd to begin with, but even moreso now. Fair warning!  I know I had a hard time adjusting to America when I returned from Korea once before when I was 23. But we've just seen too much neediness during this mission to be able to look at wealth and what people spend it on to think we're going to fit right back into American society. Who knows, maybe we're all in for some hard times that will humble us all? We do hear enough news to know things are getting tough all over. We have learned for ourselves that our only safety is in our baptismal and temple covenants with Jesus Christ and so we stress that to our refugee friends, to not put faith in any politician or president to make the world a better place for them. They hear only propaganda and it scares them. We preach nothing but faith in Jesus to them, that He alone brings peace to our hearts and His promises are absolutely sure. His Prophet and Apostles are trustworthy guides through these times. For that reason alone, I'm glad we are here and can speak the truth to them and give them hope. That's a good enough reason to be on a mission for a few weeks more. 

"I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day".

Alma 36: 3

 

Modern day Pioneers

 Some more of the same to report this week. We have enjoyed more time and fellowship with the Iranian members of our ward and the bonds of friendship are strengthening deeper as we share time together; our hopes, fears, laughter, and tears. And good food too! We can't possibly untangle now!

                       We're entwined for life!

We were going to bring in Pizza Hut but Nahid insisted hers was better. And boy, was it! 

Mmm..homemade yogurt! 

None of these friends of ours live in the business city district where we live or by the church building either, so we take a taxi out to their homes or invite them over to our apartment after church since we live only a 15 minute taxi ride to the church. 

We were overjoyed when Hiresh came to church this week. We'd never met him in person before, only through texting in the past. It only took him 3 scooter rides and a train to get to church.  

                         Now that's dedication! 

We invited him over for lunch after church. He brought with him 15 pieces he had painted that illustrated the stories in the Book of Mormon. His hope was that we could make an exhibition for his paintings. Wow. I know nothing about displaying artwork. But it so happens that there is an upcoming Stake Cultural Night of music and dance that the wards have been preparing for all summer. I wonder if we could showcase them there?  It seems like the perfect venue if we can get the logistics figured out. So he entrusted the paintings to us and after a nice lunch and hearing his life story, he hopped on a Grab Scooter for the long ride home.

 

Hiresh graduated from the University of Arts in Tehran but was targeted because his artwork was deemed too Western, too Christian in style. Despite his great talent, he had to leave his country for fear of persecution or worse, and thus became a refugee here in Indonesia. He then joined the church here and learned English, partly from the children's illustrated version of the Book of Mormon. He speaks fluently with the Gift of Tongues. We want so much to bring him to America where his talent can flourish. He wants to find a wife and have a family. 

I'd love to show you some of his artwork. I just think it's so unique and wonderful that someone from a Muslim country living as a refugee in another Muslim country would convert to Christianity and be inspired to understand the stories in a book about Jesus Christ enough to illustrate them so beautifully. 

Lehi preaching in Jerusalem, and commanded to leave in a vision. 

                   Obtaining the Brass Plates

      The Liahona guiding Lehi's family through the wilderness

Lehi's vision of The Tree of Life

The Book of Mormon coming forth to the young prophet Joseph Smith in latter days.

We feel so blessed to know these chosen individuals. It seems that the Lord chooses very special souls to be his pioneers in countries where the gospel has not yet penetrated its borders. He gives them visions and dreams so they will respond to the truth when they hear it. And because of their refugee status, they are like the Zoramites, who are humble enough to accept it. Our friends are truly the cream of the crop. They will blaze the trail for others to follow in their country someday.  For now, we can nurture them and be sort of like what Isaiah calls nursing fathers and mothers to bring them to Zion. It's going to be a long process. Nothing in bureaucracy ever goes quickly but we will not give up on them and plan to continue our quest to become sponsors for those we feel closest to. Because we have been blessed by our Savior through our whole lives and especially while serving Him in India, Timor-Leste and Indonesia, we feel to share our rich blessings with them. Because we have been given much, we too must give. 

Besides Sunday, the happiest part of our week is our online English classes with Mahdi, Nahid, and Kourosh. They are highly motivated students and want more than anything to integrate into American life so they study hard. The hardest sound of all for them is ih, "this is" instead of saying "theese ees." Isn't language just nutty? It's embarrassing how little Bahasa we remember when it's taught to us. Our brains just aren't absorbing new info these days. So we empathize with how hard it is. Every lesson in English Connect finishes with a gospel quote or theme or story so we always end up a little teary and choked up as we share our testimonies of God's goodness. The Spirit is such a good teacher and the Gift of Tongues is real! I hope to continue to be an ESL teacher after we return, even unofficially. All of my life experiences have prepared me to do this kind of work. 

Other great things happened this week. The Jakarta 3rd ward Relief Society had a service project making blankets and stuffed plushies for a children's hospital for the Women and Children's Initiative given worldwide from the church to every ward and branch. Did your ward do something too? We had fun cutting out the pieces to sew together. Rebecca invited her co-worker Dehka to come and see what our church is all about. Because the husbands of the senior missionaries were there, he didn't feel out of place being the only male attending.  He seemed to love the feeling of working together on a project for others..

                Many hands make light work

Afterwards, we introduced the Rorings to Billiongraves work. Because they are here as Family History Specialist missionaries, they were very excited to learn how to put the Billiongraves app on their phone and take photos. We took them to the War Memorial Cemetery. With the three  of us working, we finally finished the last of the graves! Hurrah! We took the time to look at the chapel again. Many historical photos had been put on the wall since we were there last. 

                     Preparing the grave sites

      A whole city has built around this gravesite

               Construction of the memorial 

                     Here's how it turned out 

   Beautiful etched glass and metal work doors

     Elder Dunlap preaching his fiery sermon 

Because we finished the last of the Dutch graves so quickly, we went and looked at the Commonwealth section where the British and Indian graves were. Inadvertantly I had missed 16 graves that were tucked in an area I had overlooked the first two visits. I bet those men were so glad we had a reason to come back with the Rorings! Then we went across the street and knocked out a whole section of Christian Indonesian graves. I loved working in a threesome! The work went so quickly.  And of course, I found some favorites again:

       Somebody obviously loved Hollywood 

                        No country bumpkin

    How could you not love your Grampa Geek?

 You know, I'm beyond thrilled to pass on the baton of this family history work to the Rorings as our time is coming to an end and theirs just begins. They love this work too and will continue to help the people of Indonesia find their ancestors and build their family trees.  I hope it will inspire any of you too when you go traveling to places all around the world, if you have some free time, download the app and visit a cemetery and take some photos. It's pretty easy to do. It's gotta get done. Our church has been given the behemoth task of finding and recording every single soul who has ever lived on this earth so that that person can be attached to a family and sealed to them in holy temple ordinances. We are 3 little drops of water in the Indonesian ocean but we have made a difference for those people we have found and recorded. (You know, the starfish story!). Find out where you can make an eternal difference for someone. Do some family history work! Invite a friend to a service project! Sponsor a pioneer refugee and give him the freedom to work and marry! Find out what the Lord has called you to do, and do it today! 

"...They did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants"

Alma 35: 9

HELP!!!

 First, a recap of a few things that transpired this week.  We had our first Zone Conference with our new mission leaders, Pres. and Sis. Mak. He is wonderful and Sister Mak is true to her name, Mery.  She is a joy! Now that we know many of the young missionaries from our visit to Medan, it's like a grand reunion to see our young friends again. One young elder even adopted us!               Great things come in small packages

Seesters in Zion

                          Adoptee Elder Albert

We also welcomed a brand new, one day old senior couple, the Rorings from Tremonton, Utah. Come to find out we have mutual close friends in Strat and Nita Murdoch. SWISH! (Small world incident, so happy!)

Their assignment in Indonesia will be as Family History Specialists. What uncanny timing that I found this soldier only the day before at the War Cemetery.

Long lost great uncle, maybe? 

Besides the conference, our main focus, thrust, and passion has been with the refugees of our Jakarta ward. We are feeling the urgency of our limited time left in Indonesia to do all we can to help not only their plight but to also lighten the burden of good man Bishop Linton of the Jakarta 3rd ward who hears their cries for financial help continually. Because they are forbidden BY LAW to work here, self-reliance is not possible. The church can help them in certain areas like food and utilities but is not allowed to pay for their rent. The ones we've become especially close to say they simply couldn't bear to live in the refugee camps anymore. We haven't seen the camps first-hand but we have seen their sparse living conditions they live in now that is supposedly a step up from the camps. Wo. In essence, they have to become professional scroungers to even survive here, and those who are too ashamed or shy to ask for help and handouts, sometimes opt for suicide. These are the stories they tell us. It's the saddest situation and they've been this way for a very long time, some for over a decade. Can you even imagine? Their peaceful protests in front of embassies have changed nothing. They send emails to the organizations and get back computer generated responses. For years. It appears that no actual humans are actively advocating for them in any government, agency, or organization. Those that move out have some kind of sponsorship. The gospel of hope in Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the saints has helped many of them out of suicidal despair. They have developed patience and long suffering and a hope in Christ and because of their response to their suffering, they are humble and fit for the kingdom of God in my opinion. If the last shall be first, they will be leading the procession into Zion. These few photos are of the fortunate ones who have found sponsors already and are helping them along the way.

Mahdi the magnificent!

Mother and child

They have all captured our hearts

So when we recently learned of the WelcomeCorp program from some former senior missionaries that served here, the wheels started turning in our heads. We asked the Bishop to supply us with all the names and contact info of those refugees who are on our church records. 29 of them. (Actually, we started with the Iranians and Afghans first. Next we'll do the same with those from Africa.) We sent out a group text to invite them first of all, to sign up for the WelcomeCorp program that matches refugees with willing people committed to sponsor a refugee in America. I also asked them to send me their photo and a profile of themselves so I could share them with anyone and everyone. Many of the names on the list we'd never seen before at church. Most did not respond at all but a few bright stars responded immediately. Maybe some were afraid to hope again that there could be an end to their wait? Maybe the English in my text was difficult for them to understand? Who knows why only a few replied, but all we've ever been able to do on this mission is invite people to take action. 

Before I share a few photos and profiles with you, my miniscule readership, I'd like you to ponder the words to a hymn.

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad? 

And made someone feel glad?

If not I have failed indeed. 

Has anyone's burden been lighter today because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? (think refugees!)

When they needed my help was I there? 

Then wake up! And do something more

than dream of your mansions above 

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure

A blessing of duty and love. 

There are chances for work all around just now, opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by saying some day I'll try

But go and do something today. 

 First, meet Hiresh:

Next is Farzad:

Last for now is Sadia (SAH-diya)

Sadia hasn't sent me her profile yet, but what I know about her is she is from Afghanistan. She is sweet, quiet, stable in her emotions, and is currently taking BYU Pathways classes and is very grateful for the chance to better herself. I know she has to travel somewhere to get access to a computer so she can take the classes. I'm guessing she has been in Indonesia around 8 years. She is single. She wears the same nice sweatshirt and pants to church each week. She is so lovable!

I hope these faces and stories of survival and need are tugging at your hearts as you sit in your comfortable air conditioned house or car, eating to your hearts content, as you plan your next vacation on your bucket list. 

So here is my puny voice that has never had much clout to persuade others to do anything. I hate selling. So instead I "invite" you to take action to make a huge difference in the life of one of God's children that would change the entire course of their life story. Here's what to do: Get 4 of your friends (or couples) and sponsor a refugee. The commitment is not lifelong (although the friendship can be but is not required) it is mostly for the first 3 months they come to their new new country, their new state, their new city, their new life. The government helps them initially find housing and pays for 3 months while they look for employment to become self reliant. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the best resource of compassionate, service-minded people you'll find anywhere who want to follow Jesus Christ by helping their fellow man but there are plenty of other good non-profit organizations that help refugees find 2nd hand furniture and get a household set up. You as a sponsor can help get them connected to community resources, public transportation services, ESL classes, etc. In 1992, we helped a family of 4 from Azerbaijan get settled. We unofficially helped a family from Rwanda maybe 7 years ago and it was the most rewarding experience of our life. Just to drive them to work, to take them to a dollar movie, to have them in your home for a meal, to invite them to swim in a pool, all these small and simple experiences became a joyful discovery for them in their new life and the greatest joy for us to share what relative abundance we had with them. Now they are fully integrated citizens and have moved on. 

The urgency for my plea is that until July 31st, this WelcomeCorp organization is giving 100% grants to cover the initial $2450. Usually, when split 5 ways, that's $500 per sponsor unit. But right now it's zero. What??? Yes , if I understand correctly, they just want you and your willing hearts more than your money! Why delay? Make gut decisions from the heart quickly! 

I'm so sorry that these aren't actual links, just pictures of the links but it says right there they are covering the initial costs.  So I am SHOUTING as loud as I can for any of you to come to the aid of people while it's free, money wise. Time and effort may be required but we're used to effort aren't we?  Even at the least, we are to love our neighbors. It's the second great commandment. The Lord illustrated who  our neighbor is with the parable of the Good Samaritan. They are ANYONE who is in need. I know there are many of  you back in America who really are trying to keep the commandments.  I know for a fact there are some of you who are supporting us financially on this final leg of our mission, since it was twice as expensive as India. To you wonderful benefactors, we thank you humbly!  You have provided the experience of a lifetime for us and have furthered the work of the kingdom of God in 3 countries and for that we are forever grateful!! You know what it's like to give selflessly. We are nearly done now and this is our final push to do the most good we can on our mission before we come home. We would take the lot of them home with us if we could break all the rules and get away with it. We've opened our home to foreigners before and we will do so again. Not that this program requires that level of commitment. It's whatever you want to make of it.  Have you ever asked yourself if you'd be the kind of person that would risk your life to help the Jews during the Holocaust? Here's a mini trial run to find out. 

If per chance you feel a stirring, a sincere desire to respond to one of these particular profiles by July 31st, (or even later but why wait?), please contact us, so we can give them the joy of knowing someone wants to sponsor them. We'll get you connected to them. They will cry and cry with joy! They have never stopped praying for a miracle. You can partner with The Lord to be their miracle. There are so many more too, I just put out a handful.  There's a whole family of 6 from the Congo and a wonderful Wayne Brady lookalike from Sudan too. But we know there are thousands just like them in Indonesia from other countries displaced here, this was a mere sampling. These friends just want the chance to work again. They are skilled and talented people. They are not needy by choice. They just need a chance and a leg up to get them started in a place with basic human rights of freedom.

 Maybe you have the right heart to respond to this but it's just horrible timing for you or you live in a small town. Please do us a favor and pass thwebsite onto anyone you know who loves to do this kind of saving work. We appreciate it so much and Bishop Linton thanks you too. I will try to figure out how to post links to Welcomecorp. We've got 11 days to July 31st so let's act quickly.  Message us! 

Alma 5: 55, 57, 62:

..."Will ye persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them? I say into you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good Shepherd, come ye out...I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church, and unto those who do not belong to the church, I speak by way of invitation..."

 

https://welcomecorps.org/become-a-sponsor/sponsoring-someone-you-know/

https://welcomecorps.org/become-a-sponsor/sponsorship-duties/