President & Sister Rowley Indonesia Jakarta Mission: August 14--September 3, 2016

August 14--September 3, 2016

August 14--20, 2016

Reorganizing Medan Branch, Mission Leadership Council, Indonesia's Independence Day

The current Branch President is moving to Bali so he was released and a new President was called. Both of these young men are unmarried returned missionaries. They carry a lot of responsibility overseeing the members in Medan. Below is the Institute class (taught by the Relief Society President). The new Branch President is on the right wearing the burgundy jacket and glasses.

Amazing Primary! Kids were singing, learning and behaving. Just one Primary group--all one class--with the "nursery" in the background. Indonesians sing well and with gusto and these children sang beautifully. All of them used Children's Songbooks.

Cute family riding in the dad's "taxi." He uses it for his job as well as transporting his family of five.
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Another family--President Rowley taught these investigators with the missionaries Saturday night and on Sunday the Dad and son attended the branch so I met them too.

Here is the newly called Branch Presidency. Branch President is second from left.

Two contrasting aspects of Indonesia: corrugated tin homes next to the train as we left Medan and the ultra modern new Terminal Three in Jakarta Airport.

August 16 Mission Leadership Council

President Rowley demonstrated his "Key Indicators Pipeline." Later our super talented daughter-in- law, Candace, made a power point presentation so he wouldn't have to take the pipes all over Indonesia! We served breakfast and lunch and had a great Council with our leaders from all of Indonesia.

August 17 Indonesia Independence Day

Celebrations took place in every neighborhood throughout the country. Indonesia celebrates August 17, 1946 as their independence day from the Dutch as their colony and from the Japanese invasion during World War II. We attended two different wards in the Jakarta area and saw programs, games, lots of food, relays involving live eels, singing and witnessed more patriotism than I've ever seen. Merdeka! (Freedom) was the word of the day -- shouted all day long!

August 19 We flew to Manado on the island of Sulawesi for the Manado Branch Audit. (Four hour flight!) Beautiful views from our hotel of the harbor and bridge. And more market fun at the Pasar!

Coconut Gurus:

More produce and peppers in one place than you can imagine!

Eggs and Egg Cartons--for all our grandchildren who raise chickens and collect eggs!!

August 21--27, 2016

Primary and Relief Society in Manado on Sunday, August 21, 2016

August 23--26, 2016
Elder and Sister Evans (Asia Area Second Counselor and former head of Missionary Department) visited our mission this week. On Tuesday, August 23 we had super training for both of our Jakarta Zones who met together, then on Wednesday the four of us flew to Solo to train with the Surakarta Zone. That afternoon we took a four hour plus train to Surabaya and met there with that Zone. They reminded our missionaries to focus on the Doctrine of Christ and the doctrinal purpose of missionary work--to teach faith in Jesus Christ, to teach repentance and to baptize converts. We need to have Faith to Find in the Lord's way. Need to ask everyone for referrals. Incredible teachings! I only have one photo--Me, Sister Evans and Sister Hansen who serves with her husband in Surabaya. We all attended the same high school--Olympus in Salt Lake City--within just a few years of each other, but we never knew one another til now.

We flew back to Jakarta for Mission Leadership Council with the Evans and were inspired again by incredible spiritual teachings. They reminded us to Obey with Exactness. "When obediance ceases to be an irritant and becomes a quest, in that moment God will endow you with power." Ezra Taft Benson. Also to be on the move, be effective, use time well and to remember that Faith is a principle. You have to try it to see what the results are. We are looking forward to their return visit in November. The Evans are incredible people and we feel so blessed to know them and to learn from them and to call them our friends. Photos from our breakfast before Mission Leadership Council.

We found an authentic Mexican restaurant in Jakarta --yummy!

August 28--September 3, 2016

At church in Tangerrang, President Rowley's former companion and the first Indonesian missionary, Brother Suharto. President was his first companion. Such a sweet reunion!

After the Evans' wonderful visit, President felt inspired to travel back to Central and East Java to work with missionaries there. Much thanks to Elder and Sister Jeffery for freeing up their plans for the week to accommodate us. Elder Jeffery and President Rowley were missionary companions forty years ago! On Monday, August 29, we flew to Semarang where they picked us up and we visited members, missionaries and investigators. We traveled to their home in Magelang, visited Borobudor (Largest Buddist temple in the world), met with more members, investigators, taught temple prep class and English classes with them and enjoyed their incredible hospitality. President went out with missionaries on their bikes to teach. Also went to Yogykarta and then their driver took us to Surabaya where President went out again with the missionaries. Flew back to Jakarta on Friday, September 2.