This is different---living in the 14th floor condo up on a hill. We can see the city, the South China Sea, the jungle, and Malaysia's highest peak, Mt. Kinabalu. Our first night here we had a power outage after a lightening storm. Glad we were home and didn't have to walk up or down the flights of steps.
Saturday evening we attended a baptism and party for an elder who goes home next week and we met a lot of members. Someone let out the word that I play the piano so I was asked to play. Using the piano bench was a balancing act as all the legs were wobbly. There are a few in this branch who play the piano so I will not be IT like I was in the Bintulu 2nd Branch. I am happy to share my 'talent' but I don't want them to rely on me if there are others who can play.
This branch is quite different from Bintulu. The people here are from the following ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay, Rungus, Murud, Kadazan, Dusun, and Kadazandusun, Filipino and maybe others. Only one branch in the whole city. Many speak English but meetings are conducted in Malay. However, they have interpreters for English and Chinese. It was nice to understand the sacrament meeting talks. I met a woman my age, Sister Helen, who lost her husband last spring. She has 9 children and 19 grandchildren so we had lots to talk about. She will be going to the temple in less than 2 weeks for the first time. Several of her children are going with her.
We are going to try to do without renting a car here in Kota Kinabalu where they are more expensive. So far we have been using 'teksi' which isn't too costly. It saves Bill the stress of driving in city traffic, trying to find a location with my directions, and then trying to find a place to park. We have a good map of the city and are becoming familiar with it. We have had some setting up to do here with getting phone and internet, changing our bank and shopping to get a few things for our home.
Wow, it is Friday already and I see that this has not been published so I will do it now. Guess those photos will have to be on the next one.
2 comments:
I thought I already posted a comment here.
That is quite a different life you are living, compared to CR! Quite an adventure for sure 14 floors up and no power? Oh man...
MOM- DO not fall off that piano bench... get dad to fix it before you have to play again!
love you and miss you. every. single. day!
Hi Bill and Ellen
We love to read about your mission and are getting excited to be on our way also. We are going to the MTC twice a week for two hours each time to study Portuguese. Then we are assigned two hours of home work each day. It is coming back slowly for me and Jessie is doing great. We are sort of glad to have four more months to study - I will need it all. On the other hand we are feeling ready to be on our way to Brasil ASAP - AS fall approches I am reminded to enjoy the cool weather because it will be the last for a longtime to come. You are in our prayers each day - and they are now being offered in Portuguese - simple but getting longer each week. Love to you both.
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