RETURN TO MANADO

Last week we had a great trip to Manado.  The purpose of our trip was to participate in donating some equipment from our church to the ophthalmology department of Sam Ratulangi University.  Manado is on the northern part of the island of Sulawesi.  It is very different from the island of Java in that the majority of people in Manado are Christian. It was nice to fly in to Manado and see a cross on the hill, to see the physicians pray before their meetings and to see an abundance of churches around.  On the island of Java, Christians are definitely the minority.

We were able to have some pleasant visits with others along with the donation ceremony.  It was a time to renew our friendships with Elder and Sister Rasband, a senior couple serving in Manado.  We spent 3 weeks with them last summer while working in Manado with the Mercy ship.  We also had a very nice dinner with the medical residents from the hospital.  It reminded me (Eileen) of my days with Operation Smile.  It was wonderful to talk freely about my opinions on medical and other matters.

On Sunday, I was asked if I would talk with the children’s organization at church.  I thought perhaps they wanted just a few minutes of my time.  I was surprised when I was asked to spend 45 minutes.  WOW, I had 5 minutes to plan.  HMMM, Ok well my grandson had just turned 8 and had gotten baptized, so we talked about what happens in our church when you get baptized.  Then we learned a baptism song.  Sister Rasband normally plays the piano, but I offered to play the piano, and Sister Rasband and Elder Kusumarmanto taught the children the song “I like to look for rainbows.”  It is a song that talks about how we can become clean from all our sins when we become baptized.  After that, I had the children pick their favorite song to sing. It was beautiful to hear the children sing “I am a child of God” in English and Bahasa Indonesia.  I laughed as I watched them do all the motions while singing, “Once there was a snowman.”. It was sweltering hot in the church. 

After the church meetings concluded, there was an eye clinic conducted for the members and their friends. Dr. John Jarstad from the U.S. (a visiting ophthalmologist) had brought over 200 pairs of glasses.  He and other doctors from the university/hospital volunteered their time to check individual’s eyes and then fit them with the needed glasses.  There were members and non-members that were offered glasses free of charge that day.  We appreciated so much the help of the doctors and of Dr. Jarstad and his wife Pat for their help in offering this service.

Monday we did a ceremonial transfer of donated items from our church's humanitarian department to the university.  It was so nice to see the gratitude on the faces of the Professors/Doctors  who received the items.  In turn the doctors will now use the equipment that has been donated to improve their teaching program and utilize the equipment in offering free services to the poor who live in the Manado area.

We were able to see a few local sites with Elder and Sister Rasband.  It was wonderful to see the beauty of the area, hear about their wonderful experiences of taking the saints from their little branch to the temple in the Philippines and to rejoice in the work of our fellow missionaries.  Best of all I was strengthened by being with some good friends who said some important things.   Among other things, Elder Rasband told me to focus on the positive and make the last few months the best of our time here.  It was a great reminder from a former bishop and friend at a time that I was willing to listen.  The advice reminded me of the words others have spoken on this subject.

“Perseverance means to continue in a given course until we have reached a goal or objective, regardless of obstacles, opposition, and other counterinfluences...Perseverance is a positive, active characteristic...It gives us hope by helping us realize that the righteous suffer no failure except in giving up and no longer trying.”

― Joseph B. Wirthlin

Don’t be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. ‘Accentuate the positive.’ Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life.”

― Gordon B. Hinckley

MEDICAL RESIDENTS WITH SUBANDRIYO AND DR. JARSTAD

PRIMARY CHILDREN SINGING

GRAB A NUMBER FOR EYE SCREENING

DR. SUSILIO, YULIANA, AND VICTORIA

DR. DEVI CHECKING PATIENT

ELDER AND SISTER RASBAND CHECKING ADI FOR GLASSES

MEMBERS AND PHYSICIANS AFTER EYE SCREENING

VIEW OF MANADO BAY 

DONATION CEREMONY

I TOO AM AN ELDER

BUDDHA PAVILLION

I SORT OF FELT LIKE I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGAIN, SULPHUR GEYSERS IN BACKGROUND

LAKE LINAU

I THINK THIS IS A REAL NEMO FISH FOR MY GRANDKIDS!