Ramadan month - N.

Our day started this morning by taking these two elders to immigration and sending them over to Singapore to go home. We love these guys and have been through many things together. They're amazing and will be to our home someday to try out the zip line. It was an emotional farewell. We will miss them. It was pouring when we left and Eld. L. said, "Oh man... this is surreal. Can't believe I'm leaving Malaysia." I remarked that the heavens were weeping.

This month is the Muslim Ramadan month - fasting from 7 in the morning until 7 in the evening every day. We read in the newspaper that Muslims can be fined $3,000rm if caught not fasting. Mmmm...interesting way to provide motivation. Wonder if that would work for fast Sundays...? It's also Chinese month of the ghosts - lots of effigies burning every night. Apparently if you burn your home, business, etc in a model, then ghosts will move into the smoke and not your home or business. Well... or something like that. Baptism last Saturday - Andy, Theresa, and daughter - Sonora. Andy is an 'event planner' in Singapore at the America club. Personable, articulate and we are very happy to have them in the JB branch. They are Indian - Tamil speakers. Andy knows English -Tamil is now another language in the mix. We have a few in the branch but they also speak English. Not so - with Theresa and children. Andy was Hindu but converted to Christianity some time ago and brought about 20 family and friends with him. Finding The Church of Jesus Christ is very fulfilling for him and he hopes to bring the friends and family with him. His mother in law and sister in law were at the baptism. We hope they're next.

Sunday was a 'marathon day' for us as we tried to meet the needs in both branches. 6 hours of meetings is just too much. We're going to need to maybe visit every other week, but the new Masai branch has no piano people and no one in YW, YM or Sunday School. We each taught classes, I played the piano and alternated with leading the singing in JB - then played for branch choir and over to Masai for piano at their meetings. And as everyone knows, I'm not good at all - just muddle along. Attended branch counsel meeting, and gave a piano lesson after church. We visited a family that hasn't been to church for sometime and gave a lesson and then rushed home and made cookies to take to our temple prep class in the evening. That's the last class until after our Hong Kong temple trip in two weeks.

Friday was Seminary and Institute. I was very nervous as the stake president spent the afternoon with us visiting members and then stayed for my seminary class. You'd think someone who had taught school and endured many evaluations wouldn't die of nervousness (such a word?) but it was stressful to me. (3 students showed up) But of course, he is a very kind man and enjoyable to be with. He has two daughters leaving for BYU next week. We hope to have them to our home sometime after we return. At one point in Seminary, we were talking about the sociality that will exist in the next life. I mentioned that when we go home, we will likely not see each other again until 'the other side of the veil.' But we'll party there. And I asked what they think that might be like... Audrey said, "Lots of hugging - lots of hugging." Yup - she's got it. I think there will be lots of hugging. We laughed at that, but it touched me and I've thought about it several times since.
Today, after dropping the elders off, we had to hang out at the mall, while some repairs were being done on our car. Asked this Grandma if I could take her pic and she agreed - cute, huh! It looks misty because we'd been in the mall and walked outside and my cold lens had condensation - wiped it off several times while she patiently waited.
One of the things we find really delicious is little kiosks that have varieties of fresh cut fruit. Garald is bagging some mango and pineapple here. Cost was 6.00rm equals 2.00 usd. Yummy. Figure we're going to be having 'sticker shock' affect at food prices when we return to U.S.
The interesting clothing here! Yes.. this is a mannequin in a mall window, but it's just kind of typical of many fashions.
This is Natanya - called Yun Yun. Attended her McDonald's 3 year old birthday party Saturday. We've eaten at the big McD way too much lately. Sometimes when we're going visiting to branch families, we stop for a bag of fries to take along. It's fun and we munch along with them. And of course, so do the elders, if they're with us.
Love the little people - Chinese faces - adorable.
Need I say more? Probably not. Couldn't hardly get her to stand still long enough for a pic.

Dessert at our house a week ago Saturday - we did a wedding luncheon. This is a kind of gelatin in layers - can't imagine how long it must take to make. Everyone loves them - we kind of just sort of... like... maybe.

The bride and groom at our house after their civil wedding. They played a game - answering questions about each other - and when their answers didn't match up - they acquired a new clothes pin.
Wedding lunch in our apartment - about 30 people. The groom said he couldn't decide between Minestrone soup or chicken casserole. Wondered if he could have both...? I said no - he'd have to choose. It was casserole. But trying to bake casseroles and rolls in my little oven proved a little challenging - must devise a better method next time. If I only had neighbors who owned ovens.
Pic after the ceremony at the government building. Oh, I'd like to tell you so much about the groom's mother on the left - hard life - amazing lady. Is happy to have two sons and one daughter who are members, but it's not for her - at least not yet. Her daughter, Sun Lee on her left. She always wants us to eat at her outdoor restaurant where she cooks and and works sooo very hard. It's yummy but she won't ever let us pay. And if anyone ever needed to be paid - it's her.

Getting ready for district meeting in the morning. Signing off and going to bed. Time is flying by.