This week began the tradition of Ramadan in Indonesia. We knew it was coming up but were caught unaware one evening as there was a mass exodus to leave the city and it took us 2 2l/2 hours to go the 3.5 miles from our office to our apartment because the traffic was so bad.
Ramadan is a holy tradition that I am sure we will learn more about as we are here longer. It involves fasting from food and drink during daylight hours for a month. We have been instructed that it would be very rude to eat or drink in public, and most food stands are closed down. The hotel that we are staying in now starts serving breakfast at 3a.m. to accommodate those that are participating in Ramadan. After dark the streets come alive and we can hear fireworks and festivities outside.
We are traveling in Surabaya this weekend and then will travel on to other locations afterwards. Russell had two presentations prepared this week for district conference. One was on the appropriate use of fast offerings, the other was on anti-pornography. The powerpoint presentations were delivered effectively by the district presidency.
It was a joy to meet with the senior missionaries in Surabaya and to visit with the members in the Surabaya branch. I (Eileen) was especially impressed with the children singing. It seems like Indonesians find great joy in singing. When you sit in a church meeting there is an overwhelming spirit that comes upon you as you hear people sing with joy and gladness. I visited the primary (which is the children's organization) and watched as the children prepared for the primary program which will be in the fall. Each child focused on learning the music and singing with pleasure. I have watched as the music director has taught the teenagers how to lead the music. As a teenager I was given the opportunity to start playing the organ for our church meetings starting at age 15. I haven't played for over 20 years because there have been so many accomplished musicians in our congregations that have been able to play. I have found my services have been needed once again in Indonesia. I have been grateful for the training at the piano I received growing up. I look at the efforts that a few musicians are going to here in order to teach the people of Indonesia and think what a marvelous service they are doing. There is a desire on the part of the people here to learn. They love music. It is wonderful to see even the little children moving their arms correctly in time with the music. To me I felt like I received a musical feast at church.
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