Last week I didn't send out an email because I flew to Jakarta and back to renew my documentation.
Since Elder Hansen has gone home, I've been in a trio for a week with two other Elders. Since them we have had transfers, and I am now with Elder Darby. He and I began our missions at the same time, and already know one another well. We get along great and have a whole bunch of new ideas that we are excited to try.
My time in Solo has been really good. I am getting to know the members and area quite well. Something my mission president has been emphasising is the importance of staying excited in anything that we do, especially missionary work. After reading the quote " You can often gauge a man’s desire by whether he hates his alarm clock or considers it his best friend” I decided that I would wake up every morning with a spring in my step. I have really come to realise the importance of a good morning schedule. After jumping out of bed (literally, I am on the top of a bunk bed), I get right at my day. No more being lazy in the morning.
Questions:
Q: Where do you get your questions from?
A: From you. If you have a question or two that you would like me to answer go ahead and send them to me.
Q: Where do people get baptised in Indonesia?
A: In the church building.
Q: What are the meal times?
A: People here eat at the same time we do in America. Although it is common here for smokers to only eat breakfast, and then smoke and drink black coffee for the rest of the day.
Q: Are there breakfast foods?
A: Hard no. Anything you eat for dinner here (rice) can be eaten for breakfast as well (rice again). Missionaries always cook breakfast at home; I typically cook some eggs and eat it with toast and juice.
Q: Do most people in Indonesia have a smartphone?
A: Yes. In fact it is quite common for Indonesians to have two phones; one smartphone for playing games on and the second a dumb phone for business. There has been quite a push in the mission lately to get smart phones for the missionaries. Everyone in Indonesia has a smartphone, but no one uses any service plan other than data. Whatsapp is used for almost all communication; without it most people can neither text nor call.
For P-day today Elder Darby and I biked to Jogjakarta (Jogja), a 40 mile bike ride. Here is a link of the route: Bike Route. We biked to Jogja and we will be having splits tomorrow. On our way to Jogja we passed a Buddhist temple and took some picture.
