Christmas Memories

Selamat Natal dan Tahun Baru!

(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)

As we come to the close of 2012 we realize what an amazing year we have had, especially the last 5 months.  The new friends we have made here in Indonesia, the new culture we are experiencing, the opportunity to share the Gospel, all have contributed to memories we will cherish forever.  December has been a month of training family history consultants, refining our leadership training and going to Christmas parties here in the Surakarta Stake!

This is winter dress in Indonesia.  It's probably 85 degrees outside but jackets are worn by motor riders.  The face masks help with the exhaust problem on the streets.

 The Greenways, member support missionaries, and us prepared a Christmas Eve dinner for all the young missionaries and our driver's families.  We had the traditional feast of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, relish tray, fruit salad, sweet potatoes and dressing with pumpkin squares and apple cake for dessert.  We even had pimento stuffed green olives, thanks to Elder Knorpp!

 Our driver Franky with wife Yami and girls Paris, Sydney and Karen.

 Greenways driver, Bono and wife Dia.

 The ward Christmas parties basically consisted of 30 minutes of a spiritual opening with talks about Christ and then the fun began!  Each organization participated with a song or dance as well as individual talents.

 Majem, Lily and I waiting for the Jebres party to begin.

 

 The Primary children danced and everyone loved them!

Our wonderful missionaries sang at every party.

The Jebress Relief Society sisters really surprised us with this jazzy dance. 

The Bangarsari Ward Relief Society was a little more traditional as they sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" in English!

Santa was a big hit in all the wards with a gift for every child.

Franky and family.  He made the tradional Javanese hat he is wearing.

We called this Santa the clown Santa!

These are the young men of Bangarsari Ward with another dance.  We have no idea what the ape mask had to do with it!

This dance was the highlight of the evening in Bangarsari .  The Bishop and his wife joined in as well as the missionaries.  You can tell Bishop Suparno has a fun personality!  He's the man in the long sleeved white shirt without a tie.

Treats and sometimes dinner was served.  This is Nasi Liwet, rice cooked in coconut milk and chicken broth served on a banana leaf.  Mmmm, so good.  It was served with chicken and a coconut milk sauce,  and labu siam, a kind of squash and a seasoned boiled egg.  This is a traditional dish of Solo.

 This is Rambutan, a fruit of the season.  Our friend, Yuli, gave us a bag of them.  We saw them growing out in the country on trees everywhere.  The fruit is sweet and juicy.  The name means "hairy".

We also attended another funeral this month.  An elderly man in Solo 2, Tukirin, passed away, Dec. 28.  His daughter, Tutut, had lost a daughter about a year and a half ago to a motorcycle accident, so it was especially hard to lose another family member.  We had the opportunity to visit him twice at the hospital and Elder Knorpp had blessed him, but it was apparently his time to go.  He has been to the temple so that is a blessing for him and his family.  Since there is no embalming, the funeral was held early the next day at their home.  We gathered around the simple casket in a car port of sorts and listened as church leaders spoke and we sang some hymns. We walked out to the sound of the lid being nailed onto the casket. Friends and neighbors were seated outside on folding chairs.  Many were Muslim.  The neighborhood government leader provided the chairs and gave a speech and then 6 men carried the casket down the road to a neighborhood cemetery. We watched as the neighbors manhandled the casket into the hole and covered it with dirt.  Some of the women, including me, were given a banana leaf basket full of flower petals to spread over the grave.  It was a sweet experience.

Bambang and Tutut, Tukrin's daughter.

Walking back from the cemetery.  

For all you creature loving grandchildren, this is our swimming pool snail.  He comes out on the sidewalk near the pool when it rains.  While he is pretty good size, he is not the largest we have seen.  Hopefully we will have our camera with us next time we see the big guy!

  This is an avocado smoothie with chocolate syrup.  Some people I know really like this! 

Here's to your health and happiness in the New Year!