At the bottom of my email is a picture of the most famous statue in Surabaya. My city has a city flag with the statue on it that I have been seeing since I came here four months ago, but I haven't ever actually seen the real statue until this week. My city, Surabaya, in Indonesian roughly means shark crocodile. So I am serving in the shark crocodile city. How awesome is that?
This week has been really awesome. The rain season started about a week and a half ago, and now it rains about every other day. Some days the rain isn't too bad, but on Friday it rained until most of the streets were flooded. Riding our bikes home from our last appointment took an hour and a half. The water in some spots was past my knees when I was on my bike. It was really hard to pedal the bikes, but my companion and I were just laughing the whole time. I think I could have moved faster if I swam.
Before I finish up I want to include some truths that I have come to really love while on my mission. I don't think that any of us fully appreciate the tools given to us. We have the ability to communicate with the most intelligent, powerful, and loving being in the universe. We can read his words in the scriptures. We can become more like him every day through continual repentance. We have the opportunity to worship him every day. We have his power on the earth. How grateful ought we to be for these wonderful gifts!
I know that God is our eternal Father, and that he has a plan for each of us. He has provided a way for us to find peace and joy in this life. Let's show our gratitude during this season of thanksgiving by not only thanking, but giving as well. Let's give others the opportunity to hear the message of the restored gospel. Let's give others the opportunity to receive blessings. I know that this message will bless the lives of all who are ready to act on it, and we will also be blessed as we share it with those who we love.
Food, area, and a investigator are the photos attached at the bottom. The food is called kolak, and is a sweet soup with a coconut broth, with potato, cassava, and pumpkin added in. My investigator is really curious about the gospel, but we will just have to wait and see what pans out.
