ayo, bandung!‏

so it's official...i'm in Bandung! and man alive...it's been weird starting over again, but it's good too. i'm excited to see how things go here, but it'll also be weird to not be here 9 months to see how my efforts pay off. we'll see what happens tho...
so last week the highlight was by far the phone call i got from pres groberg...he told me that he'd read my green letter for the week before, and he LOVED my idea about starting up something with basketball in bandung to help with the missionary efforts here! remember when you talked to me about that when i first got here, dad? i talked to pres marchant about it, but he wanted to stick with english classes....but i figured i'd give it another try with the new pres, and i'm glad i did! there's a member here in bandung who is REALLY into basketball, and so my plan is to work with him to find people and a place to play...that would be most effective. the church here only has one hoop and isn't a court at all, but we're thinking if we can find a place....well, we'll see what can happen. i've only been here 4 days, so it's definitely still a work in progress, but that'll definitely be my next project that i'm excited to get started on :) dad, PLEASE let me know what you guys did in finland (preferably separate from your usual email,since i never have time to read that..), and if anyone else has ideas about what to do,PLEASE tell my family members so i can get the information. i really am not at all sure what to do, but i figure if i can at least get it started, Putres (the member) can keep it going when i'm gone.
so friday we had a bit of an unexpected surprise...sis bajodo had just gotten to senopati, and she joined me and siman until jo and i left sunday morning. she's been a good comp... we're still in that first awkward stage of getting to know each other, but every day seems to get better. we've contacted a few times together, and i like how she contacts with me....not overpowering, but also not silent. which is good...cuz we're gonna be doing A LOT of contacting here. yes...she is my new comp, and sis lie and chris are together. so this first week, we are "berempat," or all four together, so that jo and i can get to know the area and members before we get lost here. lol....which i'm not gonna lie, is DEFINITELY gonna happen, i can already tell. i'm totally turned around here, and where in jakarta i could get on busway and always find my way home,here i have NO idea. there is no mass transportation like that, so....ya. it's gonna be quite the experience here.
but i really am excited to start new here....which i'm seriously doing. i loved jakarta, but i'm ready to become a better me, which i feel i can do better here (yes mom, one of those things is to be cleaner and more organized...so far so good! haha....hopefully that lasts). it's been fun being with lie again...we enjoy each other a lot more now :) haha, but again...things are still new, and it's all 4 of us, so of course it's more like "girl's week" than anything else. next week will start the test of companionships and appointments and all that.
i got here on sunday (they had branch conference down here, so pres thought it'd be more efficient if jo and i came down with him, then sis white went home with them), and it was directly meeting the branch members, who LOVE sis white, so...hopefully i find a place in their hearts as well. the branch here is VERY close, which i've already been able to see. everyone is more like family than just friends. i really thought that 2 of the members were brother and sister by the way they were teasing each other, the things they were saying, and how the lady's 2 yr old kid was so close with the guy, but then found out that they'd just grown up together, and with so few members they are REALLY close. so church was good, but next week is going to be A LOT smaller, since this last week had so many visitors. tonight we also have a fireside, so it'll be fun to get to know the members there as well.
well....there's not a whole lot else to say. i'm excited about starting up the work here in bandung, and especially my bball idea! i also know if jo and i work hard, we'll be able to start teaching and find those here who are ready to better their lives through this Gospel. i found out last week that the word "gospel" literally means "good news." isn't that so fitting? so that's what my work here is...to bring the "good news" to the people of indo. thanks so always for the support and love that i always know i have with you all! i love you!
~Sister Sara