MERRY CHRISTMAS,

SHEPHERDS AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Merry Christmas to each of you who are following our blog.  We like that here in Malaysia the celebration of the Savior's birth continues after the 25th.  Today in Church we were greeted many times with "Merry Christmas".  That is as it should be.  

     We stayed home in KK this week and that is nice to be able to do that.  We had our FHE on Monday night and only one sister came but we watched the First Presidencies Christmas Devotional together and ate scones and black currant jam.  I spent some time baking our favorite Woodlawn Ginger Cakes, fudge, and some sugar cookies that I decorated with red or green jello.  

     On Tuesday we went to our district meeting.  We don't get to go to that very often because of our travels but this one was especially nice because Elder and Sister Douglas and their daughter, Diana, who is visiting for 3 weeks from Canada, prepared a really  nice Christmas dinner---roast chicken and dressing, and the works.  They had even baked rolls and square pumpkin pies (no pie pans here) in their toaster oven.  I took a green salad and some of the fudge.  Those elders sure tucked into that meal as they usually do.  Sister Douglas likes to cook American-type foods for them.  When we got home from the district meeting the electricity was off which is not unusual but this time they couldn't get the generator going for our building (it is enough to run the fan and the fridge until the power comes back on).  So we climbed the stairs---14 floors, 22 steps each floor---to get home.  I'm glad we were not carrying bags of groceries.  That was our exercise for that day!

SISTER CHRISTINE, MARY AND ELLEN
MAKING SOME CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

On Wednesday evening we met with many members at the church to decorate and practice for the branch Christmas party on the evening of the 24th.  Each auxiliary was to prepare something for the program and the RS was doing a fashion show.  We had so much fun.   Some of those quiet and shy sisters could really strut their stuff.  (I haven't giggled so much since I did dueling irons with Charlotte Barnes for the Castle Rock Ward RS birthday celebration just before we left for our mission.) 

     Then on Thursday was the actual branch party.  The program included just about everyone in the branch at one point or another.  The Primary children sang 'Jingle Bells' and other Christmas songs.  The Young Men danced, the Young Women sang, then they danced together.  The Elders Quorum danced the Christmas Macarena!  How funny to see past branch presidents doing that one.  Then the RS did the fashion show and we ended with the missionaries doing the 'nativity'.  Bill and I were shepherds.  That is Sister Douglas behind me and her daughter, Diana, as angels.  Mary Ann Teo was the MC (wearing the green shirt) and we recruited a young couple to be Mary and Joseph.  The young elders were narrator and wise men.  

A CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY AT THE BRANCH

WE WERE SHEPHERDS

ELDERS QUORUM DANCING
THE CHRISTMAS MACARENA

THE PRIMARY CHILDREN SINGING

After the program we had a potluck dinner served outside which is good and bad. The 

gOod part is easy clean up. The bad part is we couldn't see what we had on our plates.  

Of course, the food was chopped chicken and rice. Each brought her favorite way to fix 

chopped chicken. I took a cabbage salad and they didn't know what it was but they ate it

all. At one time I saw a bug take a nosedive in my plate of food. I just flicked him in the 

bushes. And I disposed of the chicken bones in the same bush. Hope the neighborhood

cat had a nice dinner. The members love to be together and have fun.

We had a quiet Christmas morning; just the two of us.

And then we pushed the furniture back and set out plates of goodies and the doorbell rang. They arrived in small groups of about 10 and it took me a while to realize that our district president was shuttling people from a pick-up point up the hill to our apartment. I had been kind of worried about how they would get here as most didn't know where we live and the bus stop is at the bottom of a long steep hill. They figured it all out. We wereso happy to see so many people. In this picture they are playing the 'Animal Game' and laughing so loud I thought our neighbors might complain.

WE HAD OVER 50 AT OUR OPEN HOUSE

CHRISTMAS DAY

THE TWO WINNERS OF THE

ANIMAL GAME

And they loved the food. I had ordered little cinnamon rolls and an apple pie kind of thing (they call it a slice) and a fruit cake from the bakery at the Hyatt here in KK. That 

along with my cookies and dishes of candy and they were happy. They don't normally eat

sweets but they certainly enjoyed them. Another thing they really liked was looking out our windows---since we are so high up they can really see for a distance. Then after all had

gone home---shuttle and bus---2 little Philippino sisters, Alice and Kiko, insisted on helping me clean up. Sister Alice carries a 8 month old baby in a front carrier everywhere she

goes and her sister Kiko is always with her. They are so sweet. They missed the shuttle

and had to walk to the bus stop. That was one of the few times we wished we had a car.

BAPTISM THE DAY AFTER

CHRISTMAS

Bill writing now. . .

I am sitting here writing this blog listening to songs about turkey and mistletoe. One could 
not ask for a better Christmas than what we had here in Malaysia. We so enjoyed 
ourselves being with the branch members. We had an open house for all that wanted and could come at our apartment. We thought that most would not come because there was nota bus stop near our place. Most do not have cars and it is a sacrifice for them to take the 
bus such a long distance and of course the cost. However, we were pleasantly surprised, we had over 50 in our little abode. They were so happy and fun. We played the animal 
game and they all had a ball, laughing and joking. Many of them enjoyed the "National 
Geographic" magazines we bought while we have been here. They just poured over the 
mags and loved all the pictures. They are so easy to be with and are just so happy to be together and enjoy each other. One doesn't ask what you got for Christmas here. It is not 
part of the picture at all. Their celebration is all about being happy with each other and 
helping out and eating and talking and just having a good time and thinking of Christ and 
talking of Christ and his message.

It was so refreshing to not see any pressure or stress regarding the Holidays. When you 
try to describe to them the stress of the holidays at home they just can't comprehend it at 
all. It is just so foreign to them.

Needless to say we have learned again from those who we serve and again the Lord has 
blessed our lives with new information and perspectives.

Remember the taxi driver Ellen talked about in the last post? Here he is.He is a very good 
source of everything you wanted to know about KK and didn't know you needed to know. 
He is always on time to pick us up and is car is kept very clean. He came to our open 
house and sat on the floor where most sat and played the game also. He delivered to our apartment the goodies we got from the bakery without charging us. He just said, "Merry
Christmas".

BROTHER GARY AND WIFE WITH 2 OF THEIR 4 CHILDREN

I went on a teaching appointment with one of the Elders last week. We traveled a very long way at night. We had to change taxis because we were leaving the first taxi's area. I had 
no idea where we were at all. But we ended up at a very poor home...actually a shack... about what we would consider less than most of our garages. Here is this poor family and they are so excited about the gospel. It make so much sense to them. They are anxious to join and probably will in the next few weeks. Why is it that the poor and humble
understand spiritual things so quickly? It was the same when Christ taught. The poor and meek understood Him and believed him and were healed?

This is one of their 4 children. Born into poverty. I wondered as I sat there listening to the
lessons being taught in Malay, "What will her life be like?" My thoughts were not about her temporal welfare because that seems obvious but about will she be as happy as her 
parents are about the gospel of Jesus Christ? Will she find ways to be of service? And is it possible for me to be as happy as she will be and is?


We leave for Singapore on Tuesday for our third visa run. We will celebrate the New 
Years Day there. It is our chance to have a small taste of civilization for a few days before we come back to hit it hard again. We will be traveling 2 to sometimes 3 weeks a month 
from now until we come home.


We so appreciate all those that sent us greetings and especially for our kids that called. 
We love and miss you all. We sure hope you are having a wonderful Christmas holiday.

Happy Birthday to Preston and Sadie!

BILL,  ELLEN, SISTERCHRISTINE

DINNER AT ROTATING BUILDING IN BACKGOUND

Happy Birthday to Preston and Sadie!  I remember  when you were born like it was yesterday.  Preston was right on time for us to welcome before we left for a scheduled trip to North Dakota to see Matt and Heidi before their baby came.  So when we were picked up from the airport by Matt, he told us Sadie had been born earlier that day. Good timing, Bill and Ellen. Now they are 4 years old and the delight of their parents lives.  And ours, too.

This week we took our scheduled trip to Lahad Datu to get contracts signed for the clean water project with Humana schools.  We flew there on Tuesday morning, checked into our usual hotel, and met with Ismael, the contractor who is doing the work.  The next day Ismael and Nestor, the school superintendent, met with us to go out to several of the schools---the ones that will be done first.  

We were back in LD by about 3 PM and couldn't think of any reason to stay until Friday as planned so caught an earlier flight back to KK.  Thanks to Kate, our 'travel agent' who knows us and that our plans change, we didn't have to pay extra for making a flight change.  And the hotel sees us every month and would like that to continue so didn't make any fuss about us not staying 2 more nights.  

This is school holiday here in Malaysia.  They finish class work about the end of November and some have exams into the first 2 weeks of December but now they are finished until the first week of January.  We are taking advantage of that holiday by 'using' Sister Mary Ann (who is a private tutor) to take us to meet some of the members who have not been out to church because of some kind of misunderstanding years ago.  So far---so good.   Hopefully, with some patience and attentive listening we can see some hearts soften and members returning to activity.  

So, I will tell you about 'Teksi' Chong.  He is a 55 year old Chinese gentleman who we like to use as our taxi driver.  He is a little fellow---probably weighs about 100 pounds---with a squeaky voice and he knows EVERYTHING about Kota Kinabalu.  He always has a story for us about something that is going on here in town or in the world.  (I think he must have some time to read the newspapers.)  And he loves cars.  He is always pointing out a car that we should buy.  We remind him that if we buy a car we won't need his services but that doesn't seem to matter to him.  When he picks us up, he asks us  "Where do you want to go today?" and then "Any place else?" and then he puts our errands/stops in order so we don't have to back track.  When we went out on the 30th of the month to pay some bills, he told us not to do that at the end of the month because everyone goes then and we would have to wait in a long que.  When we go to a particular market that is out of the way, [it has Western Family, and Krustez products and Gold Medal flour :) ]  he tells us he has some shopping to do there, too, and waits for us because he knows it would be hard to get another teksi to go out there to pick us up.  His Chinese/English is pretty good but occasionally he gets stumped for a word.  He has never married ("I don't have enough money") and is the youngest of 9 children.  He lives with his 93 year old mother and takes care of her and she cooks his dinner for him every evening.  He loves his taxi.  He washes it frequently and keeps it very clean inside.  He is very protective of it when driving---which is good for us---and tells us he treats it like he would a wife.  Today on the way to church he was telling us all about Tiger Woods and his misbehavior and how when people get money they think they can do anything they want.  I told him that we have a book of scriptures that talks about that very thing---that when people are blessed and get prosperous they forget about where those blessings come from and begin to do evil things.  Guess I'll have to get a Book of Mormon for him; in Chinese.

 We passed out invitations to our Christmas Day open house at church today.   The members seem quite interested in coming.  I hope they can find us.  I wrote our address and directions on the back.  I would draw a map but I don't think many of them know about maps. I'm starting to do some holiday baking in preparation for the open house.  I think if I do one thing every day between now and then I should be OK.  It isn't going to be a big elaborate party---just cookies and punch but it will be a nice gathering.  


A week latter.......

STUFFING CHOPPED CHICKEN INTO BAMBOO TO COOK

CHICKEN JUST BUTCHERED

Just returned from Sadir and Begu Kampungs near Kuching. We were there to kickoff the water projects in those three kampungs. A bank is participating with donation of funds in two of the kampungs. The kick off ceremony mistakingly excluded LDSC as financial sponsors.  Another little challenge to work out with the NGO before we move ahead very far.

KICKOFF MEETING BANNER

LDSC LOGO AT BOTTOM

BANK PRESENTING MOCK CHECK FOR PROJECT TO ROTARY

KAMPUNG FARMER WITH HIS

BASKET ON HIS BACK

KAMPUNG FAMILY

THERE ARE TWO KIDS AND

MOM AND DAD ON THE BIKE

AND THEIR BASKET

VISIT WITH SISTERS KATE AND CHRISTINE TO 
SISTER LISA (CENTER) AND FAMILY

Kate is the sister on the left. She has made most all of our travel arrangements and when I don't use her I get it messed up. She has become a good friend. The two boys belong to the sister in the middle, Liza. She is Fillapino. Very very nice and very strong in the gospel. She and her two boys walk about 1 mile to the bus stop to catch a bus to church. The bus ride to church is about 40 minutes there and 2 plus hours home. She loves her church family. All her family is in the Philippines and she has no idea if her mom is still alive. She can't make contact with her any more.  She did go there to renew her passport a few years ago but did not have enough funds to take a bus ride to see her mother and now has not seen her for 15 years. The sister on the right is Christine. Her husband left her and took a mistress when she joined the church. He will not divorce her so she can re-marry because he is Catholic. He gives her no money. She has enough money to buy some rice once in awhile and that is about it.

ANOTHER VISIT

DISTRICT PRES LING AND HIS WIFE ON THE LEFT. 
TWINS J.R. AND R.J.  

The building is a shop that makes cabinets. Can't say much about this situation except to say that they work all the time for a pittance and have no legal way of changing their situation.

KUCHING FROM OUR HOTEL

THIS IS ON THE SOUTH END OF EAST MALAYSIA

PLEASANT TIMES IN BORNEO

ELLEN NEAR THE POST OFFICE IN KK

We are enjoying a very pleasant winter here however it does not feel much like Christmas at all. We have a little fake tree up and some music playing but it is a real stretch for us to feel Christmas yet. But we will keep trying.

You know you have been serving a mission in Borneo for almost 9 months when:

1. You can't see out the front window of a taxi:

2. When the two choices at the local restaurant are "chopped chicken and rice" and "chopped chicken and rice."

3. When someone on the phone says,"Bill is it?"

4. When someone on the phone says," hello?" and you say hello and they say hello and you say hello and so on.

5  When driving on the left side feels right and you see a movie from America showing cars on the right side and it freaks you out and you say they are the wrong side.

6. When it is 85 degrees every day, day in day out.

7. When the days are always 12 hours long, and the sun is up around 6 am and down around 6 pm or so everyday.

8. When there is no daylight savings time.

9. When you are a foot or two taller  than anybody else every where you go you are not tall really.

10. When you see monkeys so often that it is no big deal any more.

11. When you can go swimming any day of the year.

12. When the manager of the apartment complex shows you pictures of a 30 foot python that was swimming in your pool one night.

13.When everything in the culture that used to shock you doesn't.

14. When you are surprised to see a river with clear water and not brown.

15.When you see an alligator swimming in front of your dining table at a local restaurant.

16. When you realize that you will be shocked to sit on pews instead of plastic chairs in church again.

17. When the young men in the branch volunteer to do the dishes after the branch's dinner.

18. When you realize you are use to a different pace and enjoy it.

19. When you remember you are on the frontier edge of the church's growth and these members are truly pioneers, the founding fathers and mothers of the church here that will be the future leaders.

20. When you remember you will not be able to divide prices by thirds when you get home to realize the true cost .

Here is a link to a song called GoD and DoG. It was played at our zone conference by our mission President. I really liked it and thought you might also.  http://www.GoDandDoG.org/index.html

We leave for Lahad Datu  on Tuesday for 4 days to organize the 18 water projects there and get them started. We will get contracts and agreements signed and all the details worked out so it goes smoothly. The next week we head for Kuching to do the same, also Bintulu. Then Christmas week here. The last week of the year we will be in Singapore for our visa run.

Ellen here.  It is interesting to see Bill's perspective on things here in Malaysia.  Today, I spent 2 hours entering family names into new.familysearch.org for a sister who is going to the temple in Manila, Philippines, next week.  She is going with her husband and four children for the first time.  She has been working on her genealogy---4 generations---for some time and I helped her enter the names in preparation for their trip.  She is from a kampung up north near Kudat where her family had lived for generations.  There were no written records kept so most of the information she had was from the memory of elderly family members.  What is interesting is that she was even able to get 4 generations.  That is back over 150 years!

We had a great zone conference last week.  It was nice to be able to be there as we missed the last one while we were traveling.  Of the 4 senior couples here in Sabah we will be the only ones here after February---one couple just went home and the other 2 will go home by the end of February.  Are any of you couples ready to turn in your papers to serve a mission, yet?    You would love it!