(N posting) Hi Everyone and Happy Thanksgiving (albeit a little belated) to our family and friends. But it's never too late to have a grateful heart, is it! How grateful we are for the blessings we enjoy and share. Especially the opportunity to be here and serving - we're loving it. I started this post on Thanksgiving night and it's now 2 days later. Just haven't had time to sit down and 'do it.' We are pretty busy right now doing the 'final touches' on the new Masai building. What a unique and special experience we've had to be involved in this. Our first meeting in the new building is this Sunday and we're pretty busy today (Sat.) trying to get the last minute details finished up. Yesterday we spent all day there with the PF rep who came in from KL - definitely getting to be 'best friends' with him as we seem to spend so much time together. We're pretty sure he wants us 'out of his hair' though and this building finished. We just keep saying, "Oh, and we need (fill in the blank)" and he rolls his eyes and says okay. This morning we're putting the classroom tables together - they arrived last night and then we found out they're a DIY project (do it yourself) putting them together. The ping pong table is being delivered today and in a few minutes we're going shopping with another long list - including some silk flower arrangements for the tables, mats for the doorways, sacrament tablecloths, etc. Never realized there were so many details with a new building, but we're learning. Could there be a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than with a baptism? Sister Maggie - very sweet lady who has peppered us with many gospel questions over the past few weeks, and really made us think - Said she surely wanted Elder Gregory to baptize her as she did NOT want anyone younger than her to do it. - very opinionated little lady. He was honored to do so and it was a pretty neat experience. She'll be a 'kingdom builder.'

After the baptism, we were obliged to hang-around the church building for several hours as the mission president and counselor asked us to arrange for some branch members to be there for interviews - they'd asked us previously about some recommendations for a new district presidency, so we knew that's what they were doing. The 8 elders were also waiting, as they were going to S'pore with the president for Thanksgiving. So it was a bit of a crowd. I really wanted to get back to our apartment and work on my Thanksgiving dinner contribution. But we stayed as we'd been asked to do. After several hours of interviews, it appeared things were finally drawing to a close, when President Clark called us in for an interview as well. He explained who the new district presidency would be and then we were surprised when he called Garald as the 2nd counselor. Mmmm... we know ward and stake structures, but not sure what district presidencies do, but guess we'll find out. Another new learning curve. Both branches will meet next Sunday in the new Masai bldg. for the creation of the 'first ever' Johor Bahru district - historical times for the people here. Then the first district conference is scheduled for next May - I was quietly thinking in my head - "wonder if he realizes we're supposed to go home in April." You'll be happy to know I didn't ask - at least, not yet.
The kitchen at Passir House (mission house) on Thanksgiving Day. We went over to S'pore and back home the same day. What a great day and NEVER have turkey and potatoes and gravy tasted soooo good to me. I only did the yams and a relish plate - cushy. It really felt like Thanksgiving - except for the 95 degree temp outside. We do love air conditioning.
Some of the missionaries 'digging in.' For one local elder, it was his first experience having an American Thanksgiving. Said he really enjoyed it but also commented on how American desserts are "SO sweet." True. We loved it.
AFter diner UNO game and conversation.
Hmmm... there must be some truth to that 'turkey-tritophan (sp?) sleepy thing.' Or is it just over eating...? This is only one view - there were others on the floor and other chairs - quite zonked.
Not a great pic of the pouring rain, but maybe you can get the idea. Garald trying to get to the car, after coming out of the Masai branch building one day. Wading thru water that was over ankle-deep from 15 minutes of rain. It doesn't really rain - it dumps.
The newly hung art work in our new R.S. room. Choosing frames and matting was difficult for me as there was not an array of choices like available in the U.S. I stewed about everything but the day they arrived and hung them - well, they looked beautiful just because of what and where they were. Matting and frames ended up being fairly inconsequential.
This was the most beautiful piece of art work going up in the primary room.

Boy... do we love company and having Danna Lee and Adam visiting us for a week was no exception. What a great time we had as they tagged along with us everywhere. But of course, the highlight was when they told us, "After 10 years of marriage, we're having a baby." Long distance to travel to share the news, but we're all delighted.
Well, she doesn't look it here, but the Chinese breakfast spot was kind of a 'green' experience. Travel, morning sickness, jet lag... I could never have done it at this stage, but she was a trouper about everything. A couple of times going up the dark stairwells to visit members in the 'block house apartments,' we had to wade thru debris, trash and running water - um, we hope it was water. I asked her if she was all right and she gave an affirmative with a smile. Their addition to our lessons and district meeting agenda were appreciated by all. I suppose when this little one arrives, I'll always remember this very unique announcement location. We're blessed.
We took one day to visit the S'pore zoo - just love the incredibly beautiful trees. Aren't they amazing!
Another tree view - we're always amazed at the magnificent trees and then the foliage that grows all over them.
China town in S'pore. I just have to say it was so fun to have a daughter to shop with - just not the same as Garald trying to be outwardly patient but inwardly hoping it's not going to last too long. DL and I had way too much fun. Someday we might tell you about how we almost got arrested for stealing hubcabs - well, we weren't really - just taking a pic of a 'wedding decorated car' when my camera lense fell off and rolled under the car and DL shimmied under to get it, while I laughed. But when the guard started eyeing us from the distance, we serioused up and made a get away.
A little Chinese school group at a Bird Park Show. So cute.
Guess you can tell this was at the bird park too? Kind of fun.

Three recent events: 1-Garald and Adam were walking outside our apartment building when a snake dropped out of a tree and Garald stepped on it. Pullease - don't even tell me which tree it was. So glad I wasn't there.

2. Decided to grab a quick bowl of cereal at Passir house before heading back to JB - the day we'd taken DL & Adam to the airport. Poured my shredded wheat and wallah - a very black, dead gecko in my bowl along with the cereal. Hey... I didn't even scream or yelp - something I certainly would have done a few months ago. But it did quell my appetite for breakfast and I'm still working at getting my enthusiasm back for cereal again - maybe sometime. Think I've acclimated here.

3. Driving home late one very rainy night last week - two elders in the back seat - passed three signs that read: "Awas Jalan Rosak" Translation: "Caution - road broken." Interesting verb-age for part of the road being washed away as we soon discovered. We sometimes get quite the chuckle out of signs here. The wording may be different, but it still gets the message across.