One More Move to End the Mission

Elder and Sister Larry and Barbara Williams came to Malang on January 29, 2013. We double bunked while we loaned them our car and driver to look for their own car to buy. We also showed them around Malang and Surabaya and Sidoarjo. Together we visited Lala and Joseph Prayitno, two less-active young single adults in Sidoarjo.  We bid tearful farewells in the Malang Branch, Surabaya Branch, and Sidoarjo group. That was really difficult because we have grown to love these people so very much.

Once Williams were settled into their new house, (our old house), and bought their car, we were able to sell our car to a dealership in Malang. We flew out the next day for Jakarta to start the last 5 weeks of our mission. Living in the mission home we worked with the new office couple, helping them with the financial records, newsletter and writing a blog :)  The first Sunday we visited the Jakarta 1st Ward and did a membership review with a counselor and the ward clerk. It was very productive!
We found a brand new house for the Elders in Bogor, after 3 days of looking and were able to arrange the contract, construction project, buy bikes and air conditioner unit and help them move.
We completed 3 more membership reviews and organized for the wards a way for them to systematically search for the members on their ward list that no one knows. It's been a very busy and productive time to be in the mission home. Great way to end a mission!

Beautiful Scenery

We never want to forget the great beauty of Indonesia! Here are a few of our favorite scenes from the islands of Java, Bali, and Sulawesi:

Black sandy beaches of Sulawesi

White sandy beaches of South Java

Typical street in any city of Indonesia (this is in Malang).

Typical Pasar (outdoor market) 

Pasauran

Taman Mini, Jakarta

Malang Neighborhood

The road from Malang to Mojokerto

Borobudur gate

The People of Indonesia

Part of every neighborhood--the chickens,
sometimes penned and often, not.

The younger children were usually frightened of us "Bules."

Rhama Raharja's family, Bianca, Alex, Lorieta. 

A VERY common sight in any city.

Indonesians are always happy to
have their picture taken.

Anytime we were on a hike in the "wilds,"
we found people carrying heavy loads on the trails. 

Downtown Surabaya at Hindu Temple.

Whenever we visited President Adrian in Surabaya,
we saw this elderly couple on the curb.

At the outdoor pasars you'll find different produce,
meat, and many interesting items.

At 7:30 a.m. on our morning walk in Jakarta.
Oh, to sleep so soundly in the middle of traffic!

Liann Visits Indonesia for Christmas

Our greatest joy during the holidays was having Liann visit us in Malang. She is such a fun companion. Steve loved the days of travel with her, as they explored Indonesia together and did a little missionary work. Liann was an indispensable help for the Christmas Eve dinner we had with the Elders and Sister missionaries and two contacts that they brought. She put on the dinner single-handedly! Then she graciously hosted the New Years Eve party for the youth and a couple of YSAs. Because of me taking a bad fall, I was down in bed for most of the time Liann visited. Steve and Liann visited the mud volcano, Mnt. Bromo, Borobudur near Jogja, and Kidiri, along with a final snorkeling expedition the day before she left.

Mud flow motorcycle ride

President & Sister Groberg, Liann and Steve at the Bromo Volcano overlook at sunrise

Prambanan, Jogjakarta, Indonesia

Dangerous Borobudur

New Year's Eve dinner guests, thanks to Liann's hard work. 

Steve and Liann went snorkeling 2 hours south of Malang.

What did the invalid to do while Liann and Steve were galavanting all over
Indonesia?  Moan, groan, take as much pain medicine as possible and stay
in bed. Note the mosquito zapper in foreground and computer
ever handy. Really, I was glad they could go and enjoy the sights, for I was
poor company indeed!