wo weeks have gone by since I've last emailed. In that period of 14 days it has rained for 13 days. Each time it rains it normally starts at 3 in the afternoon, although it can start as early as noon. It typically starts raining soft as a warning call, and then it rains really hard for 15 minutes. We always take shelter for the first half hour or so of rain. Then it just drizzles for the rest of the day. When it rains everyone is hesitant to go outside. Makes contacting somewhat more challenging.
But, other than rain, what else has been going on in Malang? Let me explain by using some pictures. Below you will find pictures of:
But, other than rain, what else has been going on in Malang? Let me explain by using some pictures. Below you will find pictures of:
(1) A burger stand that I've eaten at twice. A burger costs less than 50 cents. The patties are what I call 50/50, or 50% meat and 50% fat.
(2) A Candi, or Hindu temple, I visited last week. It was pretty neat.
(3) Watch out snakes! You are on the menu. I went to a restaurant, and at some yummy cobra. In the pictures of the snakes you can see a bunch of normal cobras, a king cobra, and their friends cooked up and ready to be eaten.
(4) Indonesian currency. I'm not sure why I haven't sent a picture of the money yet, but here it is. Keep in mind that 13,500 rupiah here is roughly equivalent to 1 USD.
(5) A picture of me eating Indonesian cuisine in the most traditional manner: sitting on the ground, eat from a banana leaf, and using another banana leaf as a spoon. Also a hat.
(6) One of my investigators named Prisca. She has so much potential. She is that 'golden investigator.' Between our first and second lesson, a period of two days, she read from 1 Nephi 1 to 2 Nephi 3. She already has a testimony of the gospel, and she loves coming to church.
Here is photo from my most recent zone conference which was in Surabaya.
Due to some circumstances which I won't describe here, I don't think that there will be transfers this week. I feel alright about it though, because I have two awesome investigators right now, and I want the extra time in Malang to really get to know the members and the area. I am loving my time in Indonesia, and I hope everyone back at home is doing well. I pray for all of you.
Questions and Answers:
Q: Do you teach English classes in Malang?
A: A few years ago the English class in Malang had around 60 members in attendance each week. Before I moved here the class had around 10 members, coming every Thursday night. For some reason the class was moved to Friday night, and because of some miscommunication, only 2 people still came. I decided it would be best to shut down English class, so right now there is no English class in Malang.
Q: Do you have dinner appointments with members?
A: Only if I am the one who makes the appointment. In one of my last areas I ate at a members' home only twice in my six weeks there. Here the members are awesome, and I eat at a members home around once or twice a week.
Q: How often do you have potlucks at church?
A: Not very often. There is a family here that loves the missionaries, and they bring us food every week at church. The missionaries love it, because it tastes a lot better than anything that we can cook up.
Q: Can you use public transportation, or is it just biking and walking?
A: I very rarely use public transportation. The most I use it for is to travel to Surabaya for splits with the Zone Leaders or for Zone Conference.
