LAST WEEK IN KOTA KINABALU

How can it be that the time has passed so quickly?  It seems like we just got here.  And it seems like we have been here forever!
Bill and I both spoke in Sacrament Meeting Sunday.  Kind of our farewell talk.  We tried not to preach but rather let them know how much we love them and how good they are.  They ARE good.
We will never forget their kindness, beautiful smiles, testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, willingness to do what they can to build the Kingdom of God here in Kota Kinabalu.

CICIE, 21 YR OLD, ALWAYS WITH THE SISTER MISSIONARIES...VERY FUN GIRL

As we make visits to our friends here this week and say good-bye it is a little sad but we will see them in the next life.

SEBASTION'S FAMILY...WE OCCUPY THE
ENTIRE WIDTH OF THEIR LIVING ROOM

GARY AND HIS BROTHER'S FAMILY...WE HAVE VISITED HERE MANY TIMES

Last night we visited David Chong's family for FHE with the elders and sisters.  David's parents put on quite a spread for us---Chinese food as they are very Chinese.  I am using up my 'pantry' so took some 'homemade' macaroni and cheese as David LOVES cheese.

JACK FRUIT, YUM :Q

SIS DAVIS TRIES JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ONCE

After the lesson on 'not getting distracted from the important things' Brother Chong brought out dessert which is always fresh fruit.  We had ramubtan which is a red hairy fruit, lonset, and jackfruit.  We have seen jackfruit before but never had the opportunity to try it.  First of all, it STINKS. And it is served by breaking it open and we take a section.  It looks like the insides of 'something' and the texture is slimy and stringy.  Not that good.  I tried a piece since it is such a delicacy here.  I won't need to do that ever again in this life. It is sort of like their 'king of fruit' the durian.  We can't figure out why anyone would actually eat that when there are so many really good fruits here.

We had such a good time with them---just talking, playing ring-on-a-string, and taking photos.  Elder Leavitt fell in a mud puddle on their way from the bus stop.  Adrian got so excited playing the game and started to laugh and he laughs really funny so the rest of us were laughing too.  Before we left we took photos.  There were about 6 cameras set up---on timers---and then all the flashes go off, one at a time.  Which camera do we look at?  I'm sure we got some funny photos.

ADRIAN CENTER, DAVID Chong FAR LEFT
AND THAT IS DAVID'S LITTLE SISTER, MONICA WAVING

CAMERAS ALL ON COUNT DOWN.....FUNNY TO WATCH THEM GO OFF...ONE AFTER THE OTHER

Yesterday we started to pack up for our trip home.  It looks like we have lived here for a long time.  We are encumbered with so much stuff.  I think we will be sending a couple of boxes by slow boat.  We know that the last we sent have arrived safely so will do it again.  It only takes about 10 weeks depending on how soon the boat leaves after we take it to the post office.

A few weeks ago at church, several people asked us to sign their 'BR'.  And did we have a 'BR' for them to sign?  We didn't know what a 'BR' is so found out that it is a Book of Remembrance and many people in the branch have them.  They are for writing a short note and enclosing a photo to the owner.  So we got our 'BR' and it is making the rounds in the branch.

SOME OF THE BR'S WE HAVE TO SIGN...KIND OF LIKE SIGNING HIGH SCHOOL ANNUALS

We have district conference coming up this weekend.  I have been asked to help with the auxiliary training on Saturday afternoon so am preparing for that.  The theme is 'supporting the family'.  Anna gave me some good stuff to use.  Thanks, Anna.

Bill Here,

Quickly running out of time. The welfare work and branch  stuff keeps on spinning along and both need our attention every day. It will feel as though we are just quitting next Monday when we fly over KK on the way home. But our replacements are now being trained starting today.  at the MTC.  They will arrive 9 days after we leave so that feels very good. They will fly out of SLC heading for here the day we are speaking of our mission in church, the 26th.

Our talks on Sunday were both given without the need for kleenex. However the closing hymn was "God Be WIth You Till We Meet Again" and neither of us could sing a verse. We were looking at the congregation and they were looking at us. Needless to say there wasn't much volume in the singing.

There is a farewell party for us Thursday. They do this for all outgoing missionaries that have spent considerable time here. Do any of you remember any such thing being done in your home wards in the US? There is quite a connection here with the members and the missionaries.

We will try to post once more just before we leave.




More next week---maybe. . . .