If you follow our blog, you're probably very tired of hearing about "our" new building. So skip this if you'd like. But we're too excited to not 'blog' about it. Otherwise - thanks for enduring. N posting.
I know - to everyone else this is just another desk. But after poring over pix in catalogues trying to figure out which one would be good for the branch president's office, we were thrilled how great it looked when it was delivered. It's beautiful and I got a little emotional just seeing it moved in and in its rightful place. Silly - I know. We're kind of emotionally involved here, in case you can't tell.
Oh yes, it would be nice to be so very much taller, Must unlock the roller door and stand on something to raise it up to be able to access and unlock the doors into the building. 
The new chairs and cleaning the chapel - getting ready week. We now consider ourselves "professional church buyers" sort of. And boy, does the church owe us a lot of money right now. Figure they're good for it. The drape that covers that baptismal viewing window and goes across the whole wall behind the podium, arrived today.
Our first activity last Saturday night - A Thanksgiving dinner. 74 people - Filled the activity room. We talked about religious freedom and how our Thanksgiving feast in America is symbolic of gratitude for all that God gives us. We cooked two turkeys to add to the 'catered Malay meal.' Diligently took a carving knife to cut it, but in the melee, we couldn't find it. SO we served the turkey by pulling it apart with our hands and breaking it into chunks. Actually - a very Iban kind of thing to do. No one was shocked. Pretty messy job, though. I can't quite picture that ever 'going over' in an American ward.
Yummy meal with lots of good people - members, investigators, missionaries and conversation. A special night for all of us. Sister Norma and I spent the whole evening running around and kindly urging everyone to be 'so very careful.' "Don't scrape the wall. Food on the table, please. No hands on the glass." We diligently covered the carpet in traffic areas and at the drink table. You get the idea. Then as we were clearing up at the end, one little girl came running thru the activity room and 'urped' all the way across the room. We looked at each other somewhat stricken, and then laughed. Yup, the new carpet is officially initiated. Clean up job ensued and it looks fine.
Sacrament Meeting on Sunday - a record 76 in attendance. (40 was the high in the past) Must admit, I quietly wept as people started coming in. (think - 'if you build it - they will come'- Field of Dreams) It may be new-building-curiosity, but it was still great to see. Some were investigators and we have 5 baptisms set for next Saturday. Next Sunday both branches will meet here for the formation of the first new Johor Bahru district. We hope to 'pack them in.' Trying to visit all the 'inactives' to urge them to attend and we're still trying to finish up lots of last minute building issues, and printing programs, arranging for music, (preparing talks, ugh) etc. We often must be at the building for deliveries and while workmen are there to safeguard everything. Keeps us going. Things will probably slow down when this next week is over.
First Relief Society - another record attendance - with 16, plus 2 in primary and 1 in YW. Sister Norma talked in Sacrament Meeting and then taught Relief Society. I'd like to be able to help her more with teaching, but I'm 'language deficient'. I have enjoyed playing around on the new digital pianos though. Kind of nice to have organ, strings, grand piano, and other choices on the keyboard, just in time for Christmas music. We're so hoping that one of the 2 girls we're helping with
piano in this branch will be able to play when we leave. OR maybe the next sr. couple. Otherwise, no one to play these two beautiful new instruments.
I know - to everyone else this is just another desk. But after poring over pix in catalogues trying to figure out which one would be good for the branch president's office, we were thrilled how great it looked when it was delivered. It's beautiful and I got a little emotional just seeing it moved in and in its rightful place. Silly - I know. We're kind of emotionally involved here, in case you can't tell.
Oh yes, it would be nice to be so very much taller, Must unlock the roller door and stand on something to raise it up to be able to access and unlock the doors into the building. 
The new chairs and cleaning the chapel - getting ready week. We now consider ourselves "professional church buyers" sort of. And boy, does the church owe us a lot of money right now. Figure they're good for it. The drape that covers that baptismal viewing window and goes across the whole wall behind the podium, arrived today.
Our first activity last Saturday night - A Thanksgiving dinner. 74 people - Filled the activity room. We talked about religious freedom and how our Thanksgiving feast in America is symbolic of gratitude for all that God gives us. We cooked two turkeys to add to the 'catered Malay meal.' Diligently took a carving knife to cut it, but in the melee, we couldn't find it. SO we served the turkey by pulling it apart with our hands and breaking it into chunks. Actually - a very Iban kind of thing to do. No one was shocked. Pretty messy job, though. I can't quite picture that ever 'going over' in an American ward.
Yummy meal with lots of good people - members, investigators, missionaries and conversation. A special night for all of us. Sister Norma and I spent the whole evening running around and kindly urging everyone to be 'so very careful.' "Don't scrape the wall. Food on the table, please. No hands on the glass." We diligently covered the carpet in traffic areas and at the drink table. You get the idea. Then as we were clearing up at the end, one little girl came running thru the activity room and 'urped' all the way across the room. We looked at each other somewhat stricken, and then laughed. Yup, the new carpet is officially initiated. Clean up job ensued and it looks fine.
Sacrament Meeting on Sunday - a record 76 in attendance. (40 was the high in the past) Must admit, I quietly wept as people started coming in. (think - 'if you build it - they will come'- Field of Dreams) It may be new-building-curiosity, but it was still great to see. Some were investigators and we have 5 baptisms set for next Saturday. Next Sunday both branches will meet here for the formation of the first new Johor Bahru district. We hope to 'pack them in.' Trying to visit all the 'inactives' to urge them to attend and we're still trying to finish up lots of last minute building issues, and printing programs, arranging for music, (preparing talks, ugh) etc. We often must be at the building for deliveries and while workmen are there to safeguard everything. Keeps us going. Things will probably slow down when this next week is over.
First Relief Society - another record attendance - with 16, plus 2 in primary and 1 in YW. Sister Norma talked in Sacrament Meeting and then taught Relief Society. I'd like to be able to help her more with teaching, but I'm 'language deficient'. I have enjoyed playing around on the new digital pianos though. Kind of nice to have organ, strings, grand piano, and other choices on the keyboard, just in time for Christmas music. We're so hoping that one of the 2 girls we're helping with piano in this branch will be able to play when we leave. OR maybe the next sr. couple. Otherwise, no one to play these two beautiful new instruments.
1 comment:
I love to hear the updates on the masai branch. Its so great to see it all coming together.
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