The Start of a New Unit of the Church!

While visiting all the less active members one to one and a half hours south of Surabaya, we discovered that there were 15 households in Sidoarjo.  As we and Keplers visited them, we felt that if a group could be organized nearer, many would become active. With the blessing of the mission president and the district and branch presidents, a place was finally identified and the group was officially organized.

On April 21, 2012, all the Surabaya elders and couples traveled to Sidoarjo
to thoroughly clean the auto A/C repair shop belonging to Hendi and
Christin Silalahi.  Four of the elders and the two drivers took invitations
around to all the members in the area while these four cleaned.  Elders Radianto, Smith
and Mongan are in the foreground, Hendi, Elders Kepler and Earls are in the back.

Elder Earls cheerfully tackled the bathroom.

Elders Yarkasi, Mongan, Johnson and Seiter recovered
a couple of the shop folding chairs so we could use them
for the church meetings.

Figuring out the length to hem the drapes

Sisters Seiter and Kepler finished the drapes and arranged lunch.  

April 23rd, getting ready for the meeting: Sister Kepler, Elder
Johnson and President Soewardi

Back row: Priyo, Ofni, Elder Kepler, President Soewardi, Hendi, Elder Seiter, Hartanto, Elders Johnson & Yarkasi
Front: Sister Seiter, Pipit, Santi, Ephraim, Sister Kepler, Susi, and Christin
The historic start of the next branch in Indonesia (we hope!).