LEPROSY, INDIANS AND BANDUNG

This past week we worked on a wide variety of activities.  On Thursday we visited a colony with those afflicted with leprosy just outside of Jakarta. It is estimated that anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 individuals with leprosy live in this area.  The people live there because they no longer feel accepted in the communities they once lived in, or because they are currently receiving medication for leprosy. We talked with one woman that had lived there for over 30 years, another gentleman that had lived there for 25 years. Both individuals were married and were raising families in this community.   Many of the men and women had missing fingers or hands, prosthetic legs or facial deformities.  We saw lovely vegetable plants growing up the side of a growing box.  The children were having singing time in a small classroom. The more serious cases of individuals with leprosy were located at a nearby hospital.  One lady was to have her foot amputated the next day.  It was a very sobering reminder of the disabilities that can be caused by a disease that robs people of their dignity and most often their livelihoods.  It made me (Eileen) think of the story of the ten lepers in the Bible.  How could anyone be healed of this awful disease, and then forget to show gratitude to the one that healed them?  Am I guilty of the same ingratitude?  I know we are blessed with many things in life that we take for granted.

On Friday evening we were invited by one of our NGO affiliates (Yayasan Peduli Tuna Daksa - prosthetics) to attend a seminar entitled “Radiant Relationships with Dada”.  Dada is another name for JP Vaswani.  He is a gentleman from India.  We were able to attend with our friends, another missionary couple, Elder and Sister Lisk. We were placed on the front row in the VIP section.  The evening was very interesting to me.  It was kind of like being transported to India. We were able to hear some Indian music, see many beautiful Indian women in lovely saris and eat some very spicy vegetarian food.  We also heard some advice given by Dada on relationships.  Dada is 94 years old and seemed to do very well considering his age. 

On Saturday and Sunday we had the pleasure of going to a city called Bandung with the Lisks.  Bandung is 3 hours away from Jakarta.  It has been struggling as a church unit.  When we were there on Sunday there were only 28 members attending not counting the missionaries.  We have been asked as senior missionaries to go visit the inactive members in Bandung, get to know them better, invite them to go to church and leave them with a message.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time while there.  Much of our regular work involves finances, computer communications and brief interactions with individuals.  Although humanitarian work can be gratifying, I have missed the long term relationships that occur when you really get to know someone well and feel needed somewhere.  I think in Bandung we are really needed and wanted.   We are planning on attending church there once or twice/month until the end of our mission.  It is our hope that as we and the Lisks visit families there, barriers can be broken down, and the branch (church unit) will be strengthened.

One man that we visited while in Bandung was a doctor in his ophthalmology fellowship training.  He is originally from Surabaya. Last June he went on the hospital Mercy Ship and met a Dr. Jarstad that was there with a group from our church doing surgeries. He recently did a mini fellowship in Washington State with Dr. Jarstad, and is now living in Bandung doing his yearlong fellowship.  Last June we also worked with Dr. Jarstad and the Mercy Ship.  We discussed at that time helping out the local ophthalmology school.  Just last month we started a project with the ophthalmology school in Manado, which is where Dr. Teguh went to school.  It is a very small world at times, and interesting how relationships can develop.  Not coincidental in my mind.

MY FRIEND HERMA (ARI'S WIFE) HAD HER BABY 1 MONTH AGO. JUST GETTING AROUND TO POSTING A PICTURE.  BEING THE GRANDMA THAT I AM, I WOULD NOT LET HER TAKE A MOTORCYCLE HOME 3 DAYS AFTER HAVING A C-SECTION

WOMEN IN SITANALA HAPPY WITH SINGING PROGRAM OFFERED BY CHRISTIAN GROUP

IN SCHOOL ROOM

WOMAN AT LEPROSY COLONY

MAN AND SON AT COLONY. THIS MAN HAD LOST FINGERS ON BOTH HANDS.

LYDIA ON LEFT HAD PROSTHETIC LEG AND  BAD LEFT HAND.  GOES TO NEARBY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ISHMAEL, RONI AND SITI AT LEPER COLONY, ISHAMEL  HAD ONE ARM THAT WAS A STUMP AND TWO PROSTHETIC LEGS, BUT WAS A VERY HAPPY FATHER

RUSSELLAND THIS ISHMAEL'S CHILDREN'S BECAME FRIENDS

REMINICIENT OF DAYS IN INDIA

DADA ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE

DADA AND HIS "MASTER"  IN BACKGROUND

ElDER MONTOYA, EILEEN, RUSSELL AND DR. TEGUH

PAK JEFRI, SISTER TARUNI AND MARSEL, SISTER TARUNI MADE US A DELICIOUS MIE DISH THAT WE WERE NOT EXPECTING

LONG WEEKEND AWAY

Central Java is so different from Jakarta in many ways. When we landed at the airport in Surakarta, (aka Solo) the sun was setting.  As we left the airport despite being "rush hour" there was no "rush" of cars and motorcycles.  As we drove past the field where the planes were landing we saw a row of parked motorcycles.  There were families watching the planes land for entertainment at the end of the day.  It reminded me of a holiday in our small city back home.  There were vendors selling corn on the cob, balloons, hot bakso, and drinks.  Parents were holding up their children pointing to each plane that was landing.   It was really a delightful way to start our trip.

We went to Central Java for several purposes.  The first was to make a presentation on a new type of project to a group of church leaders known as the Coordinating Council. This meeting (CCM) consisted of 2 stake presidents, a district president, our mission president and our area seventy. Much of the humanitarian work we do is generated by us for members that are not of our faith.  Now there is a new kind of project available, that if led by the priesthood leaders is available for members of our church.    ,

After CCM I took our new PR couple from Malaysia, Elder and Sister Weichert, shopping for batik.  I think it was unlike anything they had ever experienced. The place we went to is a huge shopping outlet with loads of vendors trying to get your attention. There is no air conditioning.  There is so much to choose from that it can be mind-boggling. Fabric, clothes, handbags, wallets, Ipad covers, just about anything you would like in Batik fabric can be bought in Central Java.  Batik is a special kind of fabric that Indonesian fabric makers specialize in. In can be done by machine, by chop or by hand. In America we have casual Friday where businessmen don't dress up quite as much on Fridays. In Indonesia they have Batik Friday. Most Indonesians wear Batik on Fridays. Russell has a few Batik ties that he wears.

Along with making a presentation, the second reason we came to Central Java was to attend the Surakarta stake conference meetings.  A stake consists of many small congregations.  We met together to get instruction from our church leaders.   President Budi Susanto gave an excellent talk on marriage relationships.  He talked about how some young people let the things of the world get in front of them when making the decision to get married. When he married his wife he explained that he was only making the equivalent of $60/month.  He knew he could make his wife happy.  They are a lovely couple.  He talked about the importance of seeing the best in your spouse. He told a story of a lady that went to a friend and wanted to buy some poison to kill her in-laws.  She was able to buy some "poison" but was told that it would take 3 months, and would only be able to work if she would be extra kind to them for the 3 month period of time. During the 3 months she worked extra hard to meet their needs.  She found that she came to love them and did not want them to die.  She found out that the "poison" she had given them was in reality vitamins.  The moral of his story was ""as we serve those around us we can come to love them."

Sister Imma (the stake Relief Society President) talked on how we can perfect ourselves.  She said to look for our weaknesses.  Go to God and ask him for a plan to overcome your weaknesses. You don't necessarily need to tell others.  This can be between you and God.  Check in with Heavenly Father every morning asking for the strength to make the changes you need to do.  At night, report in again through prayer.  We have a loving Heavenly Father that will understand our weaknesses.  She testified that as an ordinary woman she has many weaknesses, but that through the gospel of Jesus Christ she can overcome them and become better.

The music at the conference was beautiful.  On Saturday it was led by Sister Peny and performed by the Jogja ward. On Sunday it was the young adults and led by Sister Greenway. The Indonesians love to sing and it was wonderful to hear them.  

Sunday afternoon 6 senior couples met in Greenway's apt and had lunch together. We discussed the needs of the mission, a future couple's conference, and enjoyed each other’s company. Then it was off to Jogjakarta for us.

On Monday Russell and Elder Barnard went to look at the progress on the water project.  This was the third reason we went to Central Java. It is too hot outside and there are too many thorns on the salek plants for me (Eileen) to want to go, so I stayed at the hotel and got some work done.

After a very harrowing cab ride home  (which reminded us that yes we are back in Jakarta) we are now safe in our apartment.  I guess we should say HOME SWEET HOME.

PRESIDENT AND SISTER IWAN SANTOSO, PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA DISTRICT

CROWD GATHERING FOR CONFERENCE

BROTHER DIDIT, AND SISTER IMMA NUGRAHA AND FAMILY, BROTHER DIDIT SPENT ALL DAY WITH  EILEEN ON SATURDAY AS DRIVER

SISTER GREENWAY PRACTICING WITH CHOIR

LEADERSHIP WAITING FOR MEETING TO START

PRESIDENT AND SISTER BUDI (TAKEN AT WEDDING EARLIER IN YEAR)

SHOPPING FOR BATIK, NOT FOR THE FAINTHEARTED

MANY CHOICES

WHERE TO START?

MISSIONARIES AND LOCALS AT WATER PROJECT

SEIZURES, PATIENT, PATIENCE AND BLESSINGS

The last two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for us.  We don’t frequently share personal feelings on our blog, however this week I (Eileen) would like to do so.

In the first three months of this year I had a seizure-like event during each month. During the first one in January, our mission president who is a doctor was with me, as was Russell.  Shortly after that I had an MRI and an EEG both of which were considered normal.  Two weeks ago I had two seizures in one day. This took me by surprise.  The following week I had three seizures in one day and three at night.  They continued to increase in frequency and number to the point that I was having some as long as 25 minutes at a time and as many as 17/day.  The days went by and we became increasingly concerned.  On Saturday April 6^th we had zone conference.  This is a day in which missionaries from the mission meet together to be spiritually edified and taught. I decided to go, thinking that if I had an attitude of “faith not fear” I would be ok.  The conference started at 9 AM. By 11:30 I was on my 3^rd seizure.  Prior to most of the seizures I have an aura, so I have a minute or two notice to discreetly leave the room.  After the third seizure I was emotionally drained, and left to go home without saying goodbye to the missionaries that I dearly love.  On Saturday and Sunday, Russell and I fasted and prayed to know what to do regarding my seizures.  At this point I didn’t feel like I could go on much longer like this, either emotionally or physically. It is difficult to be trapped in a body that does not function the way you would like it to.  I was afraid of leaving my apartment for fear that I would have a seizure and either harm myself or make a fool of myself in front of others.  Each time I have a seizure I feel like I have a jolt of electricity traveling from my feet to my head. Then the movements start. I am never quite sure where or what will happen, but it is never pretty.  When we fasted we humbled ourselves and asked the Lord what we should do.  I knew I couldn’t get on a plane to go back to the U.S. for an evaluation with the frequency of my seizures. How was I to get an evaluation?  As we were praying the answer came loud and clear to me.  Get a Video EEG!

With the help of our mission president by Tuesday morning I was in a local hospital hooked up to machines and being monitored by a video camera.  Within minutes of arriving at the hospital I started having seizures.  In fact within the 24-hour period of the Video EEG, I had at least 30. Some seizures lasted 10 minutes, some lasted 30 minutes.  I was exhausted and desperate for help.  I had posted a notice on Facebook regarding the test I was having.  Thoughts from friends that I haven’t seen or heard from for years were so appreciated through the long hours ahead of me.  Throughout the many days of my seizures, Russell was constantly at my side.  He would talk soothingly to me, rub my head, hold me close and pray for me.  Now he had additional duties.  He changed my bedpan, wrote down the timing of the seizures, prepared my food, and got my drinks for me. He sat at my bedside watching my every move.   I have a very devoted, cherished companion that suffered as he watched me suffer.  The room didn’t have air conditioning for many hours. The heat became unbearable, yet he did not complain.   I so appreciate and love him.  I listened to LDS general conference on my IPod until the battery on my IPod went dead.  I didn’t have the means to recharge it.  It was only 4 AM and I wondered what I would do to distract me.  Then through the still of the night came the beautiful sounds of the call to prayer from the nearby mosque.  It was very different from the 5 mosques that all commence at once nearby our apartment. The call pierced the air of my hospital room with a lovely sound and reminded me….. do not forget to pray. 

I was discharged with medication, exhausted, eager to sleep in my own bed without wires.  Thursday night Russell and I returned to the hospital to meet with 3 doctors for the results. My  mission president and his wife were also there.  The results came back very different than I had expected:  No-organic reason for my seizures, with a diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures.  After asking a few questions of the doctors, I talked with my mission president both about the challenges in my life and possible future plans depending upon how things transpire.  That night I went to bed realizing that I had gone 4 hours without a seizure.

Miracles do occur in this day and age.  I can attest to that.  Saturday, I swam l/2 a mile with Russell watching closely.  Sunday, we had friends over for dinner.  Both days I have had seizures only at night.  I am hopeful (and even confident) that with a humble heart and the Lord’s help I will get better and be able to finish out our mission here in Indonesia. 

While I was lying in the hospital I listened to a talk given by Henry B. Eyring, an apostle in our church.  He said something that really touched me, “I cannot promise an end to your adversity in this life. I cannot assure you that your trials will seem to you to be only for a moment. One of the characteristics of trials in life is that they seem to make clocks slow down and then appear almost to stop.

There are reasons for that. Knowing those reasons may not give much comfort, but it can give you a feeling of patience. Those reasons come from this one fact: in Their perfect love for you, Heavenly Father and the Savior want you fitted to be with Them to live in families forever. Only those washed perfectly clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can be there.” 

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father.  I know that I can be healed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for the prayers and love that have been offered on our behalf by friends and family. We have certainly felt of your love.