My Week:
Tuesday featured a mission meeting with two general authorities. The meeting lasted for 2.5 hours and I learned a lot. I am grateful even for the fact that I was in attendance. Because of the huge distance between cities in my mission, not all missionaries are afforded the opportunity to attend meetings where general authorities are present.
On the subject of serving in far away places, I read a talk this week given in 2006 by Richard G Scott. In his talk he gave the following observation “I have seen how missionaries who return from unusual assignments, such as adapting to the native culture of a Pacific Island, Mongolia, or the highlands of Guatemala or otherwise serving with minimal personal contact with the mission president, develop previously unknown personal capacities extremely well.” It has been interesting for me to reflect on the short time I have had in Indonesia and come to the realization that this has been true in my development.
Following the mission meeting, Elder Suranto and I traveled with missionaries heading to the city of Bandung; 3.5 hours away by train. In Bandung we went on exchanges with a companionship there. Although we didn’t have any teaching appointments that day, it was refreshing to spend an entire day walking in the city and talking to people.
Following Bandung, Elder Suranto and I went on exchanges in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. This time we were with the assistants, and it was great to see how different the work is between Tangerang and Jakarta. There we ride in buses to travel from place to place, and talking to others seems really easy to do.
This week I have been blessed with a greater vision of the Holy Ghost. In word it is hard to describe, but I know that the
A confirmation of truth from the Holy Ghost comes by study and by faith. Rarely does it come in the secular means of comparison and examination. I hope that each of us can ponder upon the truth that has been taught to us by the Spirit and decide to learn more truth under his divine tutelage. By so doing we will become more powerful in resisting evil and standing for the right.
Questions:
Q: Have you learned any new skills or talents on your mission?
A: I have learned how to mop (pitiful on my part that I couldn’t mop before), massage, cook food like an Indonesian, enjoy using a squatter toilet, teach English as a foreign language (harder than I thought), and ride a bike (I knew how to before, but I am a pro now). I am wanting to learn how to cut hair because Indonesian barbers are pretty good, even at little shacks on the side of the road. I also want to learn how to sew because the tailors here are all pretty good, but we will see about that.
Q: What is your favorite Indonesian food?
A: Nasi Padang, Nasi Pecel, Martabak Manis, Roti Bakar, Jus Buah, Singkong Goreng
Elder Allen.
