ok, so this computer is a little slow, and won't bring up all the
email addresses of people i usually send this to, so this is only
going to the 2 that i have memorized.... mom & dad and kel...please
forward to everyone else who i usually send it to. thanks!
this week was slow, but sunday was awesome! i'm not going to
lie...without teaching every day, i'm having a hard time keeping my
spirits really up in the "missionary mode" like they need to be. it's
a lot easier to feel hopeless, and like no one wants to listen to you
here in bandung than i ever experienced in jakarta. but all of these
experiences i know are for my benefit, and mostly to see how i'll
react to them...hopefully i'm reacting the way God wants :)
last week we were rejected by 2 contacts we had...1 referral and one
that we'd met ourselves (the daughter came out and told us that the
family had already found Christ, so they didn't need us). not gonna
lie....we don't get much of that directness from indonesians usually,
so we tried to laugh about it, and just move on...but both times, we
weren't as effective contacting people afterwards. lol...i'm used to
the cold shoulder or not answering the phone when people reject us. oh
well. haha, i guess that's me getting the door slammed in my face the
Indonesian way, ya? haha.
anyways, so sunday was totally awesome, and made me feel SOOO much
better about myself. we visited Ibu Dina and her family, who took care
of me while i was sick a few weeks ago, and it seriously was amazing
how things happened so that they got the message that they needed. ibu
dina is christian, but her son, Budi, switched to islam when he got
married. BUT he's never grasped onto islam cuz he really doesn't
believe it, but his wife and kids are very active. as we started the
plan of salvation (i figured it was a better topic cuz of the muslim
influence in the home), i used a scripture from the BofM, so then i
had to explain about the BofM, and both ibu dina and pak budi's
attention went right to that...and we switched to the restoration
discussion. ibu dina is a sweetheart, and i think would believe
anything and everything we'd say, but pak budi was the most
interesting for me to watch because he understood EVERYTHING we talked
about, and commented on almost all of it...the need for a prophet
today, the need for the BofM as proof that Joseph Smith was called of
God, etc....seriously, soooo cool! and then he was the first one to
agree to pray about Joseph Smith and the BofM that night. as she
walked us out to the angkot, ibu dina explained a bit about pak
budi...apparently his wife (who actually sat in on most of the lesson,
but didn't comment) doesn't mind if he becomes christian again...just
as long as he has some sort of religion that he's active in, and ibu
dina said she's prayed for years that he'd find Christ again, and told
me that maybe this is a church that can interest him in searching
again. man alive....I WANT HIM TO SO BAD! this family really is
incredible....SOOO good, and quick to give everything they have, while
maybe what they have isn't a ton. we're going back this sunday, and
i'm REALLY hoping they've read the BofM and prayed!
we finally met with Ibu Tugina on monday, and she was really quiet
again...like the kind of quiet where i almost feel like she doesn't
want us there, but after we read a chapter out of the BofM together
(which i really think she enjoyed...), we had a good conversation
about her daughter who is Muslim now because of the guy she married,
and how she prays every day that her daughter will find Christ again.
i'm really finding here in Indonesia, the christians and muslims have
such a fear of their family switching religions...which is why most of
them are so strong in whatever religion they are. but ibu Tugina
opened up a lot more towards the end, and invited us back next
week...so hopefully she keeps on warming up to us and we can help her
build her faith and find Christ thru the BofM.
yesterday we had a fireside, or family night, at the church, and it
was PACKED! it was so awesome to see people come who don't normally
show up, and Pres santoso gave an interesting lesson on music...and
singing 'benar"...how to say that in english....singing with real
intent, maybe? not just saying the words, but FEELING the words. it
was something i'd never really thought too much about, but it was
really good, and today when we sang before comp study and weekly
planning, i tried to apply that, and it's interesting how much more
the words mean to you when you actually THINK about what you're
singing. and that's my food for thought for this week :)
well, that's about all the happenings this week...i love you all, and
thank Heavenly Father for the support he's given me back home. i've
been blessed more than i deserve, thats for sure. have a good week,
loves!
~Sister Sara
Thursday, August 26, 2010
terbakar....dan sakit sekali.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Sara...
lol, mom, you are SUCH a worry wart, i love it! yes, i admit....i felt like i wanted to die this last week, but hopefully it's on the rise now. here's the story so you can know that Heavenly Father was looking out for me the whole time....
last saturday i played bball with some college girls, but after i was really exhausted...because i figured my body wasn't used to that much of a workout, since it'd been over a year since i'd played (last june was when i tore my pcl...), but sunday i was REALLY sore. but church was fine, i lasted thru the whole thing without too many complaints, but after church i started to get the chills, so i borrowed someone's coat. but we also had an appointment that was really far that afternoon, so jo and i came home, i grabbed an apple and jacket, and we headed off. and about 20 minutes into the ride, i started to get a headache. and by the time we got to the place, i wasn't cold anymore...i was REALLY hot, and had hardly any energy. jo wanted to home, but i said we were already there, and the poor lady was waiting for us, so we found her house....she got me some warm water, and then she invited me to go lay down on her bed. and from that point on, ibu Dina and her family took care of me....they made a huge meal while i slept, then forced a ton of it down my throat (i eventually just gave the rest of it to jo....i couldn't eat anything else!), and then we waited for a taxi to come pick us up...which never came. then ibu dina's son went and found a becak for us, and so after about 3 hours of being pampered in this poor family's home (i just blabbed on and on, trying to be sociable, but really just tried to get jo more involved in the convo so i could just sit there...but the family was too interested in america), we got hauled by becak to the angkot, which is not a very fun way to travel when you have absolutely no energy,but jo rubbed my back, and we FINALLY made it home....and i just crashed. sis lie had a cold cloth to keep my fever down, and that worked...the next day i didn't have any fever, just a super bad headache, and by tuesday i was just exhausted. and sis chris thinks she has the same thing, so this last week it's been me and chris in the house, wanting to die, while the other 2 go out and do whatever it is they do. friday we went to the hospital to check my platelet count, and i was hoping it'd be an "in n out" visit, but they said my platelets weren't enough, so i had to stay in the hospital until today.
mom, they #'s were 36 friday, 33 saturday, and 45 sunday. i dunno what it is right now,but obviously good enough to come home. and basically this week is going to be a recovery week....so i'm still not sure how much work i'll be able to get done. ugh. but to describe how dengay fever feels like....pres said it's something like getting hit by a train a few times, i thought that was pretty well descriptive. my back hurt quite a bit until just recently... i really just don't have hardly any energy, and right now is possibly the most i've felt since last sunday. my legs were a little red, b ut even thats starting to go away. i have certainly lost weight (NOTHING sounded good....i still get sick everytime i see rice, which is SOOO weird for me), but that'll come back in no time, i'm sure. i lost 5 kilos, which is about 10 lbs. yes, i am feeling better, please don't worry about me anymore! i'm on the mend, and i'll be back to work in a week.
thanks for all who have been praying for me...it means so much to me! i know Heavenly Father has been looking out for me this whole last week, and i know a lot of that has to do with your prayers. now pray for mom to relax and not worry too much about me :P hha, i love you, and thanks again, until wednesday....
~Sister Sara
ps funny story....the other day for comp study we were reading about the spirit world from PmyG, and man alive.....every little thing that that talked about, i kept thinking, "man, that sounds SOOO much better than what i'm feeling right now!" but don't worry.....i never saw any lights, and i especially didn't follow them! i'm here to stay! heck....i only have 6 1/2 months left! :P love you all!
last saturday i played bball with some college girls, but after i was really exhausted...because i figured my body wasn't used to that much of a workout, since it'd been over a year since i'd played (last june was when i tore my pcl...), but sunday i was REALLY sore. but church was fine, i lasted thru the whole thing without too many complaints, but after church i started to get the chills, so i borrowed someone's coat. but we also had an appointment that was really far that afternoon, so jo and i came home, i grabbed an apple and jacket, and we headed off. and about 20 minutes into the ride, i started to get a headache. and by the time we got to the place, i wasn't cold anymore...i was REALLY hot, and had hardly any energy. jo wanted to home, but i said we were already there, and the poor lady was waiting for us, so we found her house....she got me some warm water, and then she invited me to go lay down on her bed. and from that point on, ibu Dina and her family took care of me....they made a huge meal while i slept, then forced a ton of it down my throat (i eventually just gave the rest of it to jo....i couldn't eat anything else!), and then we waited for a taxi to come pick us up...which never came. then ibu dina's son went and found a becak for us, and so after about 3 hours of being pampered in this poor family's home (i just blabbed on and on, trying to be sociable, but really just tried to get jo more involved in the convo so i could just sit there...but the family was too interested in america), we got hauled by becak to the angkot, which is not a very fun way to travel when you have absolutely no energy,but jo rubbed my back, and we FINALLY made it home....and i just crashed. sis lie had a cold cloth to keep my fever down, and that worked...the next day i didn't have any fever, just a super bad headache, and by tuesday i was just exhausted. and sis chris thinks she has the same thing, so this last week it's been me and chris in the house, wanting to die, while the other 2 go out and do whatever it is they do. friday we went to the hospital to check my platelet count, and i was hoping it'd be an "in n out" visit, but they said my platelets weren't enough, so i had to stay in the hospital until today.
mom, they #'s were 36 friday, 33 saturday, and 45 sunday. i dunno what it is right now,but obviously good enough to come home. and basically this week is going to be a recovery week....so i'm still not sure how much work i'll be able to get done. ugh. but to describe how dengay fever feels like....pres said it's something like getting hit by a train a few times, i thought that was pretty well descriptive. my back hurt quite a bit until just recently... i really just don't have hardly any energy, and right now is possibly the most i've felt since last sunday. my legs were a little red, b ut even thats starting to go away. i have certainly lost weight (NOTHING sounded good....i still get sick everytime i see rice, which is SOOO weird for me), but that'll come back in no time, i'm sure. i lost 5 kilos, which is about 10 lbs. yes, i am feeling better, please don't worry about me anymore! i'm on the mend, and i'll be back to work in a week.
thanks for all who have been praying for me...it means so much to me! i know Heavenly Father has been looking out for me this whole last week, and i know a lot of that has to do with your prayers. now pray for mom to relax and not worry too much about me :P hha, i love you, and thanks again, until wednesday....
~Sister Sara
ps funny story....the other day for comp study we were reading about the spirit world from PmyG, and man alive.....every little thing that that talked about, i kept thinking, "man, that sounds SOOO much better than what i'm feeling right now!" but don't worry.....i never saw any lights, and i especially didn't follow them! i'm here to stay! heck....i only have 6 1/2 months left! :P love you all!
capek, tapi masih hidup!
well, it's only been 2 days, so there isn't too much to say..but i'll say what's happened. i'm not really allowed to go out and proselyte until the 20th, so we'll be keeping it easy in the house for the next few days. then HOPEFULLY i'll be able to get out and work again....holy cow i'm so sick of that house. yesterday was the indo independence day, and the branch had an activity with lot's of games and contests....i played :) haha. and i won 2nd place in a cruple eating contest (i'm still confused by how that happened...i haven't eaten a full meal in almost 2 weeks). but man, they had some REALLY interesting races....one was where they tied a pencil with a string to the backside of the participant, and then the person had to run to a bottle and try to get the pencil inside the bottle...it was HILARIOUS, and like the person was trying to take a poop or something. haha. indo humor is really funny sometimes.
it was a fun time, but i was exhausted, so we went home and i tried to sleep for a bit while lie showered (it was her bday yesterday, and before we left, one of the members poured flour on her head....lol, she wasn't very happy, but i thought it was a very nice gray color :), then we went out to eat to celebrate lie's bday. after that i was REALLY exhausted, and came home and went to bed.
so this week there have been quite a few new things....sis simanjuntak is on her way here as i type, and will join chris and lie. i'm still not sure how that's gonna work in our little house, but it'll work and hopefully all will be well. pres told me this while he was finding out about how i was doing in the hospital, so when we called to tell lie, she didn't believe us until she called the office. haha. funny.
dad, to answer your questions about bandung....it's like the park city of jakarta...everyone comes here to enjoy the cool mountain air. and it really does feel REALLY good here. it's the shopping center if you want anything, and it's huge. well, by indonesian standards its pretty normal, but to me it's huge. if you look at a map of java, find jakarta, then go to the south, and you'll find bandung. it's the farthest place from jakarta in jawa barat (west java) district, the rest of the branches are fairly close to jakarta. it's a small branch here cuz everyone gets offended easily and refuses to come to church. i'm still very confused here.
ok, well my time is up and i still hafta find carter's address....i love you all very much, and thanks again for all the prayers! you are the support that is my rock while i'm here, and i love each of you so much! have another good week, loves~
~Sister Sara
it was a fun time, but i was exhausted, so we went home and i tried to sleep for a bit while lie showered (it was her bday yesterday, and before we left, one of the members poured flour on her head....lol, she wasn't very happy, but i thought it was a very nice gray color :), then we went out to eat to celebrate lie's bday. after that i was REALLY exhausted, and came home and went to bed.
so this week there have been quite a few new things....sis simanjuntak is on her way here as i type, and will join chris and lie. i'm still not sure how that's gonna work in our little house, but it'll work and hopefully all will be well. pres told me this while he was finding out about how i was doing in the hospital, so when we called to tell lie, she didn't believe us until she called the office. haha. funny.
dad, to answer your questions about bandung....it's like the park city of jakarta...everyone comes here to enjoy the cool mountain air. and it really does feel REALLY good here. it's the shopping center if you want anything, and it's huge. well, by indonesian standards its pretty normal, but to me it's huge. if you look at a map of java, find jakarta, then go to the south, and you'll find bandung. it's the farthest place from jakarta in jawa barat (west java) district, the rest of the branches are fairly close to jakarta. it's a small branch here cuz everyone gets offended easily and refuses to come to church. i'm still very confused here.
ok, well my time is up and i still hafta find carter's address....i love you all very much, and thanks again for all the prayers! you are the support that is my rock while i'm here, and i love each of you so much! have another good week, loves~
~Sister Sara
Friday, August 13, 2010
Pray for Sara
We got an e-mail from Sara's mission president. She's in the hospital with Dengue Fever, and being monitored for her platelets levels and for IV fluids to keep hydrated. She should be okay but there can never be too many prayers. Here is the e-mail we got:
Dear Brother and Sister Hewlett,
This is President Groberg, Sister Hewlett's mission president. First, I want to tell you what an amazing and outstanding daughter you have. It is truly an honor to work with her. I feel I can trust her with anything. She is totally honest about situations also so I know I will get the truth from her and not a rose colored version.
I wish I could just stop there but unfortunately I am writing to tell you that she has been ill the past few days. She was checked today and it looks like she has Dengue Fever. It is a mosquito bourne virus that causes fever, aches and malaise. It can also drop the platelet count and make it easier to bleed. It is a temporary illness, usually lasting about a week. Several of the western missionaries have had it over the past several months. She will be fine but she is in the hospital in Bandung in order to monitor her bleeding and keep her hydrated. I have spoken to her a few times the past few days and she is doing okay. The last two elders we had with this illness were only in the hospital about 2-3 days, just long enough to see the platelets start to rise again. Her platelets were 36,000 which is low but not dangerously so. I was a Pediatrician for the past 31 years before this calling.
I know this is not the news you want to hear but I am sure she will be okay. We will have someone with her all the time. The medical care is good. Bandung probably has the best care in the nation
We will keep you informed.
Keep her in your prayers and we will do the same.
Sincerely, President Groberg
Dear Brother and Sister Hewlett,
This is President Groberg, Sister Hewlett's mission president. First, I want to tell you what an amazing and outstanding daughter you have. It is truly an honor to work with her. I feel I can trust her with anything. She is totally honest about situations also so I know I will get the truth from her and not a rose colored version.
I wish I could just stop there but unfortunately I am writing to tell you that she has been ill the past few days. She was checked today and it looks like she has Dengue Fever. It is a mosquito bourne virus that causes fever, aches and malaise. It can also drop the platelet count and make it easier to bleed. It is a temporary illness, usually lasting about a week. Several of the western missionaries have had it over the past several months. She will be fine but she is in the hospital in Bandung in order to monitor her bleeding and keep her hydrated. I have spoken to her a few times the past few days and she is doing okay. The last two elders we had with this illness were only in the hospital about 2-3 days, just long enough to see the platelets start to rise again. Her platelets were 36,000 which is low but not dangerously so. I was a Pediatrician for the past 31 years before this calling.
I know this is not the news you want to hear but I am sure she will be okay. We will have someone with her all the time. The medical care is good. Bandung probably has the best care in the nation
We will keep you informed.
Keep her in your prayers and we will do the same.
Sincerely, President Groberg
Saturday, August 7, 2010
PIctures of Sara
On the radio show--all they ever wanna know is if I'm single and want an Indonesian husband! It's a little awkward...but this was fun
Me and Didi--Elder Subandriyo's daughter--at President Marchant's farewell--she did a Balinese Dance
At Taman Mini with Raz
Me and Sis with some of the pioneers in the church here--Josie is over by SisThursday, August 5, 2010
minggu pelan di bandung
well, it's been a slow week, since we're starting from ground 0, but things are going to slowly pick up as we learn the area and get teaching.
so last week, while we were still with sis lie and christensen, we went to Pres Hanking's house (in the branch presidency here, and also the first member from Bandung to be baptized, and started learning about the church from Pres Marchant when he was here as a missionary), whose maid, Irma, is learning about the church. she's SUPER shy, so when she didn't want all 4 of us there to teach her, so jo and i waited for her with Pres Hanking, who was sick. it was actually totally awesome...we learned about his conversion, he told a few other stories, and then he read our palms and faces :) haha, yes, he is a bit of a fortune teller, and from what i've heard, he's the most correct fortune teller that they have in Indo as far as members go....he's supposed to be almost dead on every time. which i believed when the first thing he said after looking at my hand was "you like to drive....and you like to drive fast, ya?" ya...i was a little creeped out, but then mom you'll be happy to know that he told me to be careful with that...so i'll work on being more careful when i get home. he didn't say too much about who my future husband would be (whereas with the other sisters he's told which boyfriend they'll get married to), except that i would be hesitant about him, but that things would work out fine between us. he also said that i was gonna have 7 kids...and 2 of those were gonna be twins (haha, mom, i know you're smiling :P). i have it on film tho, so we can watch it when i get home, and i'll translate it for you. pretty interesting.
sunday was a milestone in my life...seriously. they needed someone to play the piano for sacrament. and of course no one else can do it. so i got the privilege of "sharing my talent." i hate to say it, but i do wish i would've practiced more. i was sweating like a pig. i played the 2 songs i can, and then for the sacrament song i just picked a song and only played the right hand, HA. ridiculous, but i did what i could. THEN we had branch counsel, and i was kindly asked to play the songs for the choir for DISTRICT CONFERENCE in october! how i get pulled into these things? yes, i'm stressing quite a bit, and yesterday i was practicing one of the songs over and over and over, until my fingers felt like they were gonna fall off...and it's still not as good as i want it to be. but seriously, district conference? that's the WHOLE west java! ugh. i hate playin in front of people. but....this is God molding me into the person i need to be....right? lol...i sure as heck hope so.
and MONDAY WE GOT OUR FIRST NEW INVESTIGATOR! there was a lady that jo contacted last week while we were walking to an appt with the other sisters, and so we showed up at her house monday (she didn't answer her phone). her daughter was there, and we got to learn about how ibu tunigan (i think that's her name?) went from muslim to christian. they're family seems to be really strong christians, and they don't smoke (we found that out pretty quick when some salespeople came by, trying to sell the new "healthy cigarettes" that have absolutely no side effects, but still give you the sensation of smoking....new from singapore! how do people come up with these things and still get away with it? jo and i just made faces at each other the whole time, and it was hilarious to watch ibu tunigan and rana's reaction to these guys......they were a lot nicer to us, thank goodness). anywho, after we taught the restoration, they were silent...and it was a little awkward, but they finally had a few questions, and agreed to let us come back next week after they read from the BofM and Joseph SMith's testimony. so that was awesome, but as much success as we've had this week with investigators.
i'm still trying to get things figured out with basketball, but after this we're going to head to a college with a friend of Putres to see what kind of service i can do there with bball. i also got permission (PRAISES!!!!!!!!) to play competitively with putres and his friends on friday nights, cuz putres said there's no way anyone is gonna trust me or be interested in the church until after they see me play... so ha! this talent i'm HAPPY to share with anyone and everyone. hopefully i can start talking to people, get them to come to english class, and eventually want to start learning about the church. at least thats the way Putres suggested i try. so today and tomorrow will be the time to see how things get started.
yesterday we went to a place here that's a lot like yellowstone, with hot springs and stuff, and so that was fun...except that it rained the whole time, and so we literally spent the whole day there without planning on it....we just didn't have any other way to get outta there! but it was fun, and we met some nice arabs who didn't talk quite as much to us after they found out we were christian missionaries. lol. i love this place.
so thats the cool stuff that happened this week! i'm still learning a lot here...directions, addresses, street names, the best places to eat....ya know, all those important things. but i'm also learning to work in a new area, and love the people that i meet. bandung has a lot more muslims than jakarta, and they are supposed to be a lot more fanatic than jakarta, so it's gonna be work finding people to teach, but i'm ready for the job. especially when it includes basketball. i love learning from the scriptures...i'm reading the New Testament now, and jordan sprague told me that he gained his testimony of the church when he read the bible...and i'm definitely starting to understand why. there is nothing that i've learned from our church that is contrary to what i'm reading from paul or any of the other apostles. i actually have found far more similarities than i was ready for...and so i have notes all over my bible now (haha, about time...most of the pages have been empty for far too long). this morning i read from 2 corinthians 11:13-15 about false prophets...and i know that what i'm preaching is NOT false. it's the truth, and its what will help anyone who accepts it to know God and Christ, and Their will for us here on earth. i know i have many faults and weaknesses, but my testimony is not one of them. i'll keep "working out my testimony muscles" like you talked about mom, and it will only get stronger. i love you all so much, and pray you all have a great week! be safe, loves~
~Sister Sara
so last week, while we were still with sis lie and christensen, we went to Pres Hanking's house (in the branch presidency here, and also the first member from Bandung to be baptized, and started learning about the church from Pres Marchant when he was here as a missionary), whose maid, Irma, is learning about the church. she's SUPER shy, so when she didn't want all 4 of us there to teach her, so jo and i waited for her with Pres Hanking, who was sick. it was actually totally awesome...we learned about his conversion, he told a few other stories, and then he read our palms and faces :) haha, yes, he is a bit of a fortune teller, and from what i've heard, he's the most correct fortune teller that they have in Indo as far as members go....he's supposed to be almost dead on every time. which i believed when the first thing he said after looking at my hand was "you like to drive....and you like to drive fast, ya?" ya...i was a little creeped out, but then mom you'll be happy to know that he told me to be careful with that...so i'll work on being more careful when i get home. he didn't say too much about who my future husband would be (whereas with the other sisters he's told which boyfriend they'll get married to), except that i would be hesitant about him, but that things would work out fine between us. he also said that i was gonna have 7 kids...and 2 of those were gonna be twins (haha, mom, i know you're smiling :P). i have it on film tho, so we can watch it when i get home, and i'll translate it for you. pretty interesting.
sunday was a milestone in my life...seriously. they needed someone to play the piano for sacrament. and of course no one else can do it. so i got the privilege of "sharing my talent." i hate to say it, but i do wish i would've practiced more. i was sweating like a pig. i played the 2 songs i can, and then for the sacrament song i just picked a song and only played the right hand, HA. ridiculous, but i did what i could. THEN we had branch counsel, and i was kindly asked to play the songs for the choir for DISTRICT CONFERENCE in october! how i get pulled into these things? yes, i'm stressing quite a bit, and yesterday i was practicing one of the songs over and over and over, until my fingers felt like they were gonna fall off...and it's still not as good as i want it to be. but seriously, district conference? that's the WHOLE west java! ugh. i hate playin in front of people. but....this is God molding me into the person i need to be....right? lol...i sure as heck hope so.
and MONDAY WE GOT OUR FIRST NEW INVESTIGATOR! there was a lady that jo contacted last week while we were walking to an appt with the other sisters, and so we showed up at her house monday (she didn't answer her phone). her daughter was there, and we got to learn about how ibu tunigan (i think that's her name?) went from muslim to christian. they're family seems to be really strong christians, and they don't smoke (we found that out pretty quick when some salespeople came by, trying to sell the new "healthy cigarettes" that have absolutely no side effects, but still give you the sensation of smoking....new from singapore! how do people come up with these things and still get away with it? jo and i just made faces at each other the whole time, and it was hilarious to watch ibu tunigan and rana's reaction to these guys......they were a lot nicer to us, thank goodness). anywho, after we taught the restoration, they were silent...and it was a little awkward, but they finally had a few questions, and agreed to let us come back next week after they read from the BofM and Joseph SMith's testimony. so that was awesome, but as much success as we've had this week with investigators.
i'm still trying to get things figured out with basketball, but after this we're going to head to a college with a friend of Putres to see what kind of service i can do there with bball. i also got permission (PRAISES!!!!!!!!) to play competitively with putres and his friends on friday nights, cuz putres said there's no way anyone is gonna trust me or be interested in the church until after they see me play... so ha! this talent i'm HAPPY to share with anyone and everyone. hopefully i can start talking to people, get them to come to english class, and eventually want to start learning about the church. at least thats the way Putres suggested i try. so today and tomorrow will be the time to see how things get started.
yesterday we went to a place here that's a lot like yellowstone, with hot springs and stuff, and so that was fun...except that it rained the whole time, and so we literally spent the whole day there without planning on it....we just didn't have any other way to get outta there! but it was fun, and we met some nice arabs who didn't talk quite as much to us after they found out we were christian missionaries. lol. i love this place.
so thats the cool stuff that happened this week! i'm still learning a lot here...directions, addresses, street names, the best places to eat....ya know, all those important things. but i'm also learning to work in a new area, and love the people that i meet. bandung has a lot more muslims than jakarta, and they are supposed to be a lot more fanatic than jakarta, so it's gonna be work finding people to teach, but i'm ready for the job. especially when it includes basketball. i love learning from the scriptures...i'm reading the New Testament now, and jordan sprague told me that he gained his testimony of the church when he read the bible...and i'm definitely starting to understand why. there is nothing that i've learned from our church that is contrary to what i'm reading from paul or any of the other apostles. i actually have found far more similarities than i was ready for...and so i have notes all over my bible now (haha, about time...most of the pages have been empty for far too long). this morning i read from 2 corinthians 11:13-15 about false prophets...and i know that what i'm preaching is NOT false. it's the truth, and its what will help anyone who accepts it to know God and Christ, and Their will for us here on earth. i know i have many faults and weaknesses, but my testimony is not one of them. i'll keep "working out my testimony muscles" like you talked about mom, and it will only get stronger. i love you all so much, and pray you all have a great week! be safe, loves~
~Sister Sara
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