Whew - the last week - an update. N posting. We see winter moving into the Utah area. Of course, it's hot here and maybe staying for two winters is a good idea. We do miss changing seasons though.

We know this new Masai church building is really not 'ours.' But we do feel like it's 'our baby.' It's been such a unique opportunity for us to be involved, although sometimes nerve racking. Last Sunday, the branch conference day for both branches - 6 hrs of meetings and in between and after we took several groups of visitors out to see the new building. President Clark had some very definite opinions of things we're supposed to make sure get changed. President Lai (st pres) enjoyed the tour and only had one suggestion. As these two branches are in the process of being made into a 'mission district' by the end of the year, this is probably the last time there will be stake visitors here. President Lai said it's time for JB to go back to being part of a Malaysian district and were only adopted by Singapore for a temporary time. But he is still over CEI and will continue to over see our Seminary and Institute teaching which has finished for this year and will begin again in January.

We've been working on finishing up the shopping list we were given. We have now spent approximately $25,000rm for the church. I know this sounds rather silly, but one night last week, I came home with a nervous tick in my check. Not really from the shopping and decisions, but from straining so hard to understand what the 'English-speaking-Chinese-businessmen' are trying to tell us. We try to repeat everything to make sure we and they understand the same things. We were going to purchase pianos but instead ended up getting two Yamaha Clavinovas - digital - which will also give an organ type of music and built in metronome - USB port for recording, etc. One for chapel and one for R.S. room upstairs. Then a keyboard and stand for the primary room. Purchased clocks, cd players, cleaning supplies, nursery table, toy storage containers, fax machine, TVs, DVD players, foyer furniture, desk for branch pres office.... well, let's just say it's been an experience.

Sister Norma and I trying out the new podium. The window behind is a view into the new, all-tile baptismal font. It will be covered with pull- drapes.
Discussions of the 'minds' about what to do about covering the window.
This is upstairs in the new activity room - discussing the options here. See the big windows behind - well, it's now 3 times since construction began that the big one has had to be replaced because of someone shooting a hole in it and, of course, a consequent crack in it. We think it's unfortunate that the whole building is carpeted - except the kitchen\baptismal area. Carpet is almost unheard of in this country and people just don't know how to clean it. There is an upstairs balcony, and we're 'talking hard' to get them to put an awning over it so tables could be put out there for food service. It's tile flooring and could just be hosed off. One of the bids came in today - $7,000rm - mmm... not sure that's going to fly.
A while ago I posted a pic of this view upstairs when they were just beginning walls. Lots of closets on the right. Classrooms on the left - big activity rm at the end. Just fans in the hallway and big room at the end. One of President Clark's changes is that he wants air cons in ALL the rooms and hallways. We've turned in his requests and suggested if there was any discussion to call him.
On the left is Agus, the PF man from Jakarta. He came two days this week and we took him and his partner to all the places we'd been where they paid for purchases - furniture, pianos, office chairs, art framing, etc. He's great to work with, albeit sometimes hard to understand - but we're both getting better at it. Someday Malaysia will be able to 'stand on its own' and not need stewards from other countries. He's over all buildings in Singapore, and East and West Malaysia - no small job. Has worked for the church for 15 years. He spends a lot of time traveling and is the bishop of his home ward when he gets there. Was very kind and accepting of all decisions we'd made.
Going over the furniture invoice with Mr. Beck - the furniture man. His office was one of the few places we'd been this day where it was air conditioned. I was sitting on the sofa behind them - enjoying a few moments of cool. At this point, most decisions had been made, just going over the details. Unfortunately we didn't get everything finished while he was in town. So we've been continuing and purchasing from our personal account - they'll reimburse through Sister Norma's checking account to us, as we have been unable to open any bank accounts in this country.
When we couldn't decide about the foyer furniture, they loaded them in a truck and ran them to the building so we could try them out. They looked good. But workers had to re-load them back into the truck and will deliver later when construction is complete.
Oh sorry - bad pic. But there were problems with the way the podium and stand had been constructed. The man in the striped shirt is the contractor from Singapore. Unfortunately they had not left room for or built the sacrament table. So the whole right side is being torn out and rebuilt - contractor error. The hosing sticking out of the ceiling at the top is one of the places where an air con will be installed.
This door goes out into the bathrooms on the left and to the kitchen\baptismal font on the right. Our concern was children walking to the front of the chapel going out and bathrooms being totally visible to the whole congregation. SO a privacy wall was being discussed her and has been built in this spot, which turns out be a possible great place for the piano - we hope.
Sister Norma - R.S. pres. of Masai branch. We've kind of had way too much fun working on this together. But luckily it helped when I wasn't the only 'female' opinion of how things should be. Sometimes when the men were making decisions, we just quietly raised our eyebrows at each other and then suggested what 'really' should be done. We laughed because we were practically always in agreement - female minds and tastes.
This is the look as you enter the foyer from the double front doors - looking into the chapel. The door on the right is called a 'late comers' room. It also has a big window that looks into the chapel. Kind of a 'cry room' for children\babies. I remember when we used to have them when I was a child, then they were phased out in new buildings. Kind of a new innovation here. Unfortunately this electrical box is on the outside of the locked doors. We're finding that we must remove 6 large black fuses every time we leave the building, or they are stolen. Expensive to replace. This is such a 'pain.' The thinking is to try to get the building owner to put a cage type structure over the box. Not sure what's going to happen there. Some unhappy facts about where we live - petty robbery - such a problem. A while ago one of the elders left his bike chained to a tree and returned to find the tree cut down and bicycle stolen. The gas meters in front of the new bldg have been stolen twice - so they now have upgraded to a heftier model with a bigger, better padlock. The contractor can't install the air cons until the very last thing, as they'll be stolen. We can't put furnishings in the building until there are no more workers going in. We do have a key now and received permission to hold our English class there last Saturday night. (four new investigators attending) No chairs and no 'air' but it was so exciting for us to be in the new church and to watch some of the branch members as they saw it for the first time. Garald had to do a quick run to get me back to the JB building to accompany the choir practice then he ran back to the building to finish and lock up and accompany the elders to a teaching appointment. All missionaries feeling the urgency to fill up this beautiful new building with beautiful new converts - we hope.
A celebratory pot luck at the home of one of the JB branch members the other night. Mostly Chinese in this branch - quite different than the Masai branch which is mostly Iban people.

We leave for Singapore in the morning for a zone activity and conference. On Wednesday morning (1:00 a.m.) we'll be at Changi airport to pick up Adam and Danna Lee - I'm excited. We think we'll leave them sleeping the next morning while we attend zone conf, then sight-see in S'pore for a couple of days and get back for English class again on Saturday night. We'll miss visiting members tomorrow with Sister Norma. Oh... the elders caught their 2nd rat in their house last week - the JB house. They shared all the gory details with me - bless their hearts. I'll not share with you - you can be grateful.