Little Red Visits Ayah and Ibu

There is a gorgeous sky and glorious clouds... It is a tropical day in Borneo... Little Red (riding hood), having survived her last adventure with the wolf...and having grown up considerably... decides to try a walk into the jungle.....

Again, she packs a basket; but this time takes a companion, and they start the journey on foot.

Grandmother is far away but Little Red and her companion are looking for Ayah and Ibu... They understand the wolf has been this way too... He is always seeking to get there before they do! "...your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he might devour." I Peter 5:7

The trail narrows. Outhouses, bath houses and "houses" are passed...the way no longer seems so dreamily tropical; but still no Ayah and Ibu.

Little Red and her companion remind themselves that it is not Grandma's lunch that they have in "the basket" but the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they must keep going. They look up to see that the beautiful clouds are still in the sky, lest they should be tempted to turn back.

Deep in the recesses of the hot and steamy Kampong, they find them! Ayah and Ibu, waiting eagerly for the contents within the basket.

Today, Red's companion has brought knowledge of the Priesthood. Ayah has no concept of this gift. How do they explain "hold the priesthood"??? These are unfamiliar words to Ayah, he has never before heard of Priesthood.

Patiently, Elder McKellar, in very small steps and with simple words, tries to clear the mysteries in Ayah's mind and reveal this new knowledge.

It is a huge leap for Ayah, to cross so many unknowns, so many missing foundational stones; to move without any previous experience, any childhood training, any family example or knowledge from friends, and attempt, at age 60, to understand this power available to him.

Little Red and companion must go...But they will return, with more awesome and wonderful knowledge in the basket, revealed truth, that baptism has been made available to Ayah and Ibu.

Week after week Ayah and Ibu will wait for us, with faith, that we can bring them understanding. "I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people." Heb: 8:10

How vast the cavity is to be filled! Yet they are willing. And we are willing... That is what is required.

"...Be patient therefore...behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it. " James 5:7

Light-Filled Moment with Vanessa

"When you are with Others Ask: Who AM I With Really?" Sister Nelson

VANESSA: She is the little girl pictured with Dad in the news. We went to see her today. THese children WILL break my heart! At times she is terribly swollen and covered with big ugly patches of dry crackled skin. The skin is so dry and hard that it hurts her, and her father has to carry her everywhere, but Vanessa is a beautiful child. She looks sooo different when she is not swollen, and in pain. Today she is running and laughing. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her hair was shiny and black...no big flakes peeling off... She took my hand and we sat together on the floor. Then she was on my lap. Oh!!! What shall I do. I love these little ones! I just held her close and hugged her!

She has two sisters. One lay asleep, four years old, on the floor with no clothes on. Another little sister and baby brother nearby. I had brought a sack of sweet mandarins. I peeled it one and handed them a slice. They loved them. Even the baby sucked on it with delight!

They have NOTHING. They live in a little lean to shack at the back of a construction site. We sat on the floor of the one little room ... with four children. They didn't say, "Oh don't look at my house, its not clean... or I'm sorry I don't have a chair, or I'm so embarrassed to have you see how I live..." They are so happy!

The Mother and Father love the children dearly. They smiled and said, "Come in Come in! You are always welcome. Come in!" I thought of them as we sat there. I thought: We are not really teaching them. We are only their servants. Who are they really? They are only poor in worldly goods. We don't know who they REALLY ARE. They may stand among the most noble and great hereafter "Unmarked" and "Unjudged" by their worldly condition. They may seemingly "be in the dark" but they are a light to us!

I noted to myself: Serve Humbly. Serve with great respect to those you serve. You don't know who they are, Really. Worldly possessions mean nothing. How foolish we can become about our false status.

Jirau, Yvonne and family. "Who are they really?"

The Setting: This is their home. The "view" directly in front of the door that they were standing in. What a strong and worthy spirit one must have to smile and emanate light in this surrounding!

The Father. Does the father love his child? Jirau, his only boy, and Vanessa. Jirau's eyes hurt him terribly this day, but his love for his children was so obvious. He will work is for them, despite the pain. Does he teach us of OUR FATHER?

And Light? Where and how does one find "light"? This family shows it here, in the abyss of poverty and seemingly no hope. They demonstrate just that: hope and light.

Is it any wonder that the Lord searches in "the nethermost part of the vineyard" to find such choice children of his?

Who are they REALLY? HIs sons and His daughters! There is no greater status. Mosiah 5:7

John and Vanessa on the "veranda"... note the yard. Do our children have grass? What a luxury. Note: Jirau's leg...tattoos are traditional among the native Iban.

What is it?

Dad and I were teaching at Langaat's kampong. She served us this:

We had no idea what it was! Do you? Keep in mind the color, size and texture....

Answers:

Alex: liver of the ugliest fish in the world

Chad: Abalone

Tiffany: Mormon Jello filled with whip cream, no, make that Cool Whip

Sarah: Took the 5th amendment on grounds that it could have something to do with pig head!

Laurie: Orange Jello

Gabriel: (all the way from shanghai!) Tor-ti-lee-nee

Stephanie: Jelly filled donut

Christy Jane: Malaysian Pear Harlequin?

Peter: Marie Calendar Pot Pie

Matt: Papaya Ravioli

Aunt Christy: Why it's Jellied fish!

Tyler: Lizard Gizzard! That's what's for dinner!

Question: What would you LIKE it to be?

Laurie: Pastry filled yummy like chocolate

Alex: (about to depart for Moscow Russia Mission) Super glazed stuffed Krispy Kreme

Andrew: Freshly cooked scone with the honey butter just out of range of the camera!

Stephanie: glazed Salmon

And What Is It??

Glutinized Rice with a root vegetable inside perhaps taro or sweet potato.

It's a Jungle Out There, Sister!

When we lived in Bintulu, a new Elder was assigned who was from Indonesia: Elder Sugianto.

Yes, that's his companion: John Travolta! (Elder Wheelwright). One night we went literally out into the jungle to the darkest most primitive home I had been in... Inside, it did not get lighter, only darker. The two men in there spoke of their reliance and belief in witch doctors. They, themselves "looked the part"! I gingerly sat on the floor and monitored the walls and ceiling

for strange bugs, spiders, and large geckos. Elder Suga was "all eyes"! We kept looking at each other with expressions of disbelief and shock. As we left, he and I were the first ones out, he turned to me and said seriously, "It's a Jungle out here Sister. It's a Jungle!" Words that have since been engraven into our bones! Yes, lest we should ever forget: It IS a Jungle out here!

A Hot Steamy Jungle: When we get up in the morning; it is already 85 degrees hot. We say,"Wow, its cooled off today," if it should be 82. Yesterday afternoon as I began to cook in the kitchen, it was already 92 degrees inside.

I plan to discard most of our suitcases and bring Dad home in a bottle, as he will have totally melted by then. Hopefully, he will pass the 2 ounce liquid limit, or we will be missing some part of him! How will I know which part to pour out if He's over?

Jungle People: Last night we visited a member family. As we left, their next door neighbor was happily having his daily shower... I snapped a picture. Quickly he poured a bucket of water

over his head to rinse the soap, and smiled for a second shot!

Critters of the Jungle: We have seen and even eaten a little snake, pig's head, fish, fungus, water buffalo and many, many unknown other things. But, we live with ants. We have had to adjust; for there are ants between the glass top and the table... We watch them as we eat... Ants on the cupboard, in the cupboard, on the floor, in the drawers. Leave a scrap or a crumb out: result Ants. Ants in the cereal...and we squish them off our plates, and brush them out of our food as a matter of routine.

At night, we each take a glass of water to our bedroom to brush teeth and and have a drink during the night as the bedroom is very warm. Dad would say, unbearably hot. Recently, the past couple of weeks, I began noting that there were ants all over my wash basin in the mornings...little blond ants. This a.m., I looked at my water a little closer: swimming with cleverly camoflaged, blond ants! It appears that along with my nightly, thirsty drink, I have drank a fair portion of ants!

I dream of cold, clean,clear, refreshing, Teton Valley water!

Lesson learned: I was warned! "Remember, Sister, It's a Jungle out there!"

Itsy Bitsy Spider Holds Family Home Evening

Itsy Bitsy Spider found its way into the Kampong Monday night...

Not only was that spider in the corner, but also on Elder McKellar's fingers!

Tantus loved wasshinggg him out!

...and hanging him up to dry! This is a fun spider!

Farini's little spider had such spindly legs, it had a hard time moving...

Sister Zafar finally coaxed him upward...

And sure enough, he got out in the sun with all the other spiders...

Tantus is 11. He hasn't been to school yet. But he loves the game, "Don't Eat Pete!"

Nine right choices. Now it's getting tense... Which candy hides the fatal number?

Even little Farini loves the game! And she's good!

After we got Itsy Bitsy Spider taken care of, and the candy for Pete was gone, the three sang for us, "I am a Child of God." Is there any doubt? These three are so sweet. We prefer them to angels! We want to share them with all of you:

Erisiana... "Rini"

Farini

Tantus

Bananas From Dina

Dina, our new convert, arrived at Sacrament Meeting just a little late. Breathlessly, she slid into the chair beside me... "I have been looking for you!" Then, smiling broadly, she handed me a sackful of baby bananas, and some hand ground chili powder! She is about 22 Kilometers from the Church, so she catches a ride on the back of a small motor bike. She had seen the bananas at a stand on the way and thought that I would like them. We love these bananas... Did you know that bananas have many many different flavors?

And Chili Powder? A Sarawak Staple. She had taken the full red, chili pods, seeded them, and ground the powder for me. I said ,"Oh, I will take it home to the U.S. with me." "NO" ! was the firm reply. I make more for you. You eat dis now." Who am I to argue over hot chili powder? And, I assure you, it's "pistol hot"!!

Brigham Youngsters

Would you believe? This is your mother and your Meme just a little bit longer than 50 years ago! I know, you are wondering why we aren't in pioneer dresses....

We were called The Brigham Youngsters and danced all over for Program Bureau for 3 years. It was such fun! Surprise!

This group is getting together this coming week in Provo to celebrate the 90th birthday of Janie Thompson, legend and Leader of Program Bureau for years and years and years at BYU. Janie is the one who taught me that the most important thing that you could DO was: SMILE! This group evolved into Young Ambassdors under her hand.

There was an article in the Daily Universe recently:

http://universe.byu.edu/node/7161

Now, despite the fact that it appears by years that I lived in the ancient history... This Meme has get up and go in her bones still! Anybody want to dance?