Russell and Eileen's Church Missions: FAREWELL TO FRIENDS

This past week we said goodbye to several dear friends. One of them, a senior couple named the Beamans served as the office couple in the Jakarta mission. They also lived in the apartment tower right next to us, so we saw them quite frequently. They have spent much time on their mission feeding the missionaries, new members and any investigators the missionaries would like to bring. They invite as many as would like to come and the food never seems to run out. Last Sunday we had the opportunity to participate in one of their spiritual feasts. Among those that attended were two new members of less than a year, Ruth and Tessa. Tessa is majoring in music and sang a beautiful song for the Beamans. Ruth is a faithful member who received support from other new members as she tried to curb her addiction to cigarettes. She is very sweet and offered to go out of her way to help one of the sisters get home last Sunday. The other two sisters are only 20. Both are anxious to serve a mission. We heard a short message by Sister Hunt and then Believe (Livy) shared a very personal and spiritual story with us. When she was young Livy suffered with some significant health problems. One day while she was in the hospital her heart stopped beating. The doctors defibrillated her heart to keep her alive. Her mother was praying desperately for her life and plead with God that if he would spare Livy’s life that she would consecrate her daughter’s life to the Lord. Since that time Livy has been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her parents did not approve of the idea and especially did not like the idea of Livy serving a mission for our church. Then Livy’s mother was reminded of the promise she made to God many years ago. She told Livy that she would approve of her serving the Lord on a mission. Livy shared this story with us while we were at the Beamans. There was a great spirit in the small apartment and we were glad to be a part of it.

Two other couples we have said farewell to are the Smiths and the Meehans. The Smiths are from Bountiful, Utah and have lived in Malaysia for 18 months serving as the Public Relations directors. They have come to Indonesia on several different occasions to write up the stories on projects we have been working on. Elder Smith has such an optimistic attitude he could write something positive during a war while bombs were dropping around him. Sister Smith and Eileen have shared many stories about our families. In fact the Smiths know a mutual family member of ours and we mourned together when that aunt died recently.

The Meehans are returning to the Houston area. They have been serving in Hong Kong as our supervisors over humanitarian work. Despite only having spent four days in person with them during the time they were orienting us to our mission responsibilities, we feel quite close to them. We have spent an abundant amount of time over the internet skyping with them, trying to get our projects passed, requesting help in emergencies, and asking for their opinions on various subjects. They even diverted their orientation to help Russell with his first big project which was to write an anti-pornography presentation on powerpoint. They have been invaluable in their help. We feel like we know them well. We know what they both eat for snacks, which ear Elder Meehan scratches with his pen, and where Sister Meehan hides her goodies. (You better be careful when you skype, the viewers can see everything.) We think Eileen and Elder Meehan both graduated from the same school of sarcastic jokes.

These are some of the memories of our time with the Beamans:

· Where in the world/Jakarta is our office?

· Does our cab driver know where he is going? I think we are in the bus lane. Yikes, we just got hit by a bus! GET ME OUT OF THIS CAB!!!

· Where are we going to eat Saturday night? Yum, these limeades are delicious.

· Fresh pumpkin bread. Elder Beaman, you are the best.

· Can’t walk. Sister Beaman doesn’t do “hot and sweaty”.

· What do you mean I can bring a swimsuit on a mission? Really???

· I don’t think you ought to go swimming today Elder Beaman. Somebody has used the pool as “toilet facilies”.

· Christmas Eve Cruise? You bet!

· Oh no, we were just walking and now you have broken your arm. No you can’t go to Singapore. You are in shock! Yikes, your arm is crooked! No, I don’t think you should go back to the same doctor. You are great Sister Beaman. Still smiling after 3 surgeries!

· Nobody slips money to the waitresses and and staff at the apartments better than Elder Beaman.

· Who is guaranteed to always laugh at Eileen’s jokes? Sister Beaman.

· Who will sometimes laugh at Eileen’s jokes if she really pesters him to death? Elder Beaman.

· We love you Elder and Sister Beaman. We miss you already!

We have shared laughs, tears and frustrations with all 3 of these couples. The great thing about missions is that you get to make wonderful friends.