June Joys

 We had the pleasure of returning to east Java this month to install family history computers in two buildings and do some additional training.  The people there are so welcoming!  This area definitely has caught the vision of the great worth of family history for the living and the dead.  They were having their District Conference with a major change in leadership so there was a huge crowd for the meetings.  Included in the speakers was Sister Lia, a former missionary we had met, who is now a family history consultant.  She gave an inspirational talk about family history and bore testimony of the joy it brings to families. Another surprise came after the Sunday session when Sister Ike, the Family History Center Director, invited us into the center. She had assembled 3 Priesthood leaders responsible for the work in their branches for us to instruct! We were delighted to have that opportunity!  Just the evening before we were wishing we could meet with those exact men to review their responsibilities.  By the end of that Sunday we had been invited back to a District Youth Conference to present a workshop on family history with 36 teens for three hours.   We have been blessed with many opportunities this month.  In Solo we were able to give another youth fireside, train missionaries and work with many members.

 We have been creating these collages for each of the units as we do youth training and firesides with them. We post them on the bulletin boards in their chapels.  They say:  Family History - We Are Doing It.  

These are the amazing consultants in the Surabaya District

 Sister Lia - Malang

 Sister Dian - Surabaya 2

 Sister Ike - Family History Center Director

Brother Priyo - Surabaya 1

After we finished our work in Malang we had some free time so the Williams took us up to Batu in the mountains above the city to see a waterfall.  It was beautiful there...cool and misty.  To our surprise they grow apples there but with no season change to make the trees lose their leaves, they pick all the leaves off by hand to allow the trees to blossom and grow fruit!  We saw lots of big black monkeys in the trees across a small stream from us and smaller brown ones came right up to us.  In fact, as I was taking a photo and one of them came up and tore my bag of apples right off my arm!  Scared me to death!  No harm done, though.  We were even able to retrieve our apples.

 The monkeys were eating these huge, fragrant blossoms.

 These guys kept their distance and looked like small gorillas.

 Don't miss the baby hanging on to Mom.

The thieving rascals!

This area is a popular place for scout camp-outs.  We saw these Muslim scouts in the parking area having a great time.  We started taking pictures and before we knew it their leader turned around and started speaking English to us over his load speaker.  Before we knew it he had invited the kids up to have their pictures taken with us!  We loved seeing these kids....reminded us of what a great program scouting is for youth all over the world!

Back in Solo we had a youth activity with the Banjarsari Ward.  The key to linking generations in Indonesia lies with the youth.  They understand enough English that they can manage the Family Search website and they have had technology experience so they do well with the computer.  It is fun working with them.  During our PowerPoint we ask them questions about their family.  If they know the answers we throw them some candy and then we play a Concentration game matching English words from the website with their Indonesian counterpart.  We always have a good time!

 Below is Sister Ratmini and her daughter Aster who is the Jebres family history consultant.  Ratmini has been so devoted to gathering her family information over the years.  She told us that her husband is not interested in his ancestors so she decided to do the work for him.  She had no information about his family so she prayed about what she should do and the Spirit directed her to go the village where her husband's family had lived and died and talk to the neighbors.  She went there, not knowing who she should talk to, but was led to some old friends of the family who remembered the family and knew many of their names!  She is busy working with Aster to enter the names into their family tree.  This September Ratmini, her husband and Aster will be going to the temple for the first time!  We are so excited for them and grateful that we will get to go along with them and other Stake members to the Manila Philippines temple.

Elder David A. Bednar said to the youth:

"My beloved young brothers and sisters, family history is not simply an interesting program or activity sponsored by the Church; rather, it is a vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation.  You have been prepared for this day and to build up the kingdom of God.  You are here upon the earth now to assist in this glorious work."

We feel so blessed to be here helping the amazing Indonesian youth link generations as they turn their hearts to their fathers!