Yogyakarta Week 5

Hello Everyone,

First off, I am so sorry that I did not get my last main email off. The computer was really poor, and it kept crashing. But now, I am at a better internet cafe, and the computer is really fast. I had a really good time here this past week, and I am so happy to be serving in Jogja. I hope I will be able to explain in detail all the great things that happened, but it is always pretty hard! Here are a few things that happened.

First, I would like to wish my mother a very happy Birthday. She is such an amazing mother, and I know I would not be on this Mission if it were not for her. I am so happy to be her son, and I am so proud of all that she does to serve others. She is an example to me of kindness and hard work. I love you Mom!

Sisters Manalu and Baantjer left on Wednesday, and the two new Sisters, Allred and Believe came the same day. They are both really nice, and I think they will really help the work here progress. 

One cool place that we Missionaries often go to is a place called Raminten. It is a really cool restaurant that serves traditional food, and great drinks. We go there sometimes, because it really is not expensive for the quality of the food. One of the cool things is how big the drinks are. You can order Jumbo size, and it is so big! The food is also really cool, and we love it there!

This is a restaurant called Raminten. It is really cool! 

There are huge traditional drinks.

I have gotten much closer to the members here, and they have helped us so much with many different things. I am still pretty bad with names, but eventually I will get all of them down. We have been pretty busy lately, so we have not had time to visit very many members at their homes, but hopefully we will get to do that soon.

Our District has really been doing well as far as lessons and baptisms go. Just this Sunday, an investigator of six years was baptized. I had the chance to conduct the interview for her on Saturday, and although I was nervous since it was my first time, it was amazing. I felt the spirit so strong, and I knew exactly what to say. She had many questions, but all of them were resolved. She will be a great, strong member here.

As far as my companionship, we are trying hard to find new investigators. We have had some good success in that manner, since we get referrals and contacts often. Hopefully many of them will have a true desire to learn and want to be baptized. We will work as hard as we can!

One funny thing that happened was on Sunday night. We did not have very much food at the house, and then I had a really dumb idea. I saw a very small lizard at the house, and I caught it. I always wanted to cook one and eat it, so I decided to try. I first boiled it, and then fried it. With a few Indonesian spices to help the flavor, I ate it whole. It honestly almost made me throw up, but it made a good story. My companion thought it was pretty dumb, and I have to agree with him.

Well, there are a few cool things that happened. Today, we are going to the local Zoo here in Jogja, and it should be really fun. I hope you all have a good week, and feel the incredible love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us. Thank you for the support!

-Elder James

This is an Italian place that is here in Yogyakarta! It is so rare here, but this is owned by an Italian guy! It was really good. A little expensive, but I was not the one who paid. :)

Real Italian Pizza!!

Elder Kusumarmanto's family visited Jogja, and they got to meet their son! 

It pays off to have your Dad as the Mission President's first counselor! 

A member's grandchild who was really cute.

Our District's formal picture before the two sisters left. 

Our realistic District photo!

My favorite fried rice here. It has lots of seafood in it. 

Yogyakarta Week 4

Cooking at home

{Elder James wrote an entire letter this week and the computer he was using crashed, which caused him to lose everything. He was, however, able to send some pictures and he sent us a quick email to tell us that everything is going really well in Jokja. He said that they did a lot of great things this past week and hopefully he will get to write and tell us more next week.}

Me and my companion

New planner vs an old planner

Playing games at English class {Not sure what Elder James is doing!}

Eating with the Zone Leaders

Our Zone, minus Semarang

Service project at a pre-school

Our bikes' replacement

Cool picture at the church

A cool Becak painted at an art gallery

Yogyakarta Week 3

Hello Again!

Another week has passed here in Yogyakarta, and I like this city more and more! There really is so much to do here, and the work is progressing. I like all the Missionaries here, and we do some fun things while working hard. I am so happy when we are busy, and we have done our best to keep it that way!

We have a few investigators who are doing pretty well. The problem is that we have a hard time meeting with some. They often do not come to the appointments, and we wait for a long time. But I really want to start focusing on finding new investigators, and we have been biking around many areas looking for people to teach.

In one of those areas, I met my worse fear... SPIDERS!!! I looked up, and there were webs everywhere, with huge spiders everywhere I looked. It was the most I have seen naturally. I took a few pictures, and then biked out of there pretty quick. I have gotten over my fear for the most part, but sometimes those things really freak me out!

The Sisters here have been so nice to us. They help so much with finding the homes of members and other people. I really think it would be so much harder if we did not have their help. We often eat together, and discuss the progress here.

One funny thing that happened this week was what I did to my hair. I got it cut at a normal place, but when I got home, I realized they did not cut nearly enough off. I wanted to trim some of it, so I grabbed scissors and began cutting. The front honestly looked fine, but I realized the back would be unbalanced if I did not cut it too. So I started cutting, thinking it looked fine. My companion laughed when he saw me, and took a picture. I realized I have no talent whatsoever at cutting hair. I will not do that again!

The Zone Leaders came here on Sunday night and stayed over since they were flying to Jakarta the next day through Yogyakarta. We took them out to eat at a members house, but we only had two bikes. I should have taken a picture to help explain what we did. But Elder Watson rode with me, and the other two Elders rode together. It was super difficult, painful, and entertaining for others to watch. It was a lot of fun to have them over.

For P-day today, we learned how to make Soto from the uncle of my companion. He is a member, and has a cool place that serves the traditional food, Soto. We helped him make some, and then ate together. It was really good because it was fresh. I don't know if I can find all the ingredients at home, but I do know how to make it now!

My companion and I getting some root beers and 

relaxing after much biking. 

Well, there are a few cool things that happened this week. I really miss you all, and I will talk to you next week!

-Elder James

These are called 'cabe' and they are really spicy peppers here.
The red ones are super spicy! When I first came, I could barely eat the green ones.
Now I can eat them like crazy. I ate thirteen yesterday in a competition with Elder Watson. 

Elder Kusumarmanto and I sitting at Sister Siska's restaurant.
We teach her son there, and she always gives us a lot of food. 

Yogyakarta Week 2

My first picture in Yogyakarta! The city is beautiful!

Hello everyone,

A whole week has passed here in Yogyakarta (Jogja)! I have also got past my year mark! This past year really has gone by fast, and I cannot imagine how fast this next one will go. I really do feel changed, even though I still have a lot of progress I can make. My testimony has grown so much, and I have realized the importance of faith in all of our lives. 

A pretty shot of the outskirts of the city. It is so clean and pretty here!

This past week was pretty busy, but boring as well since we just wandered around the city with a few appointments trying to get adjusted and learn the city. We have to know the situation first before we can really progress. The Sisters here have sure been a great help! Here are a few important things or events from this past week:

Our district in Jogja. This was on top of a hill that was so pretty!

My companion, Elder Kusumarmanto, and I have really hit the ground running here. Right away, we started calling investigators and making appointments even though we have not met them before. There are a few possibilities of baptisms here, so I hope we can work hard. In this District, there are also four Sister Missionaries, (Sisters Baantjer, Manalu, Manulang, Sheffield) and one Mission couple. (The Barnards) I really like them all, and we get along great.

In my studies and teachings, two particular scriptures have really strengthened me. One is Alma 32:27, and the other is D&C 130:20-21. We read Alma 32 a lot with many people, no matter their status, because it teaches so well about faith. I liked verse 27, because it taught me that it does not matter at what stage one's faith is at, because any kind of true faith will grow. Even if we can only desire to believe, that will grow within us, and develop into a great knowledge eventually. The other one in D&C just really reinforced the principle that obedience brings blessings. I think that is so true, and many people forget about it; including me!

The Jatmiko family was in Jogja, so they took us out to eat! Just like Solo.

On Sunday, I was able to meet all the members here, and introduce myself. They were all very nice, and really supportive. I think I will have an awesome time with all of them. It was really strange to be in one sacrament meeting with eight Missionaries in total, but I should get used to it.

For P-day today, we went to a beach south of the city. It was super pretty, and we took some cool pictures and explored. There were many places to hike, with new views and scenes. The sun was pretty bright, so I did get a bit sunburnt, but I have gotten used to that. We drank coconuts by the beach, and enjoyed it because the entire place was almost empty!

A really pretty restaurant that is owned by a member.
We go there to teach her son, and always get free, good food.

I really am happy to be here. There are obviously times where I struggle with certain things, but I really think I just need to improve. I think that is what God really cares about. Not about where you are, but what direction you are going. I hope we always remember that when we get down. It sure helps me through some hard times. I love you all, and I want to testify of the power of faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Have a good week!

-Elder James

This was a little thing we did with the sisters.
There is a park with two big trees, and if you can walk in between them from a far distance,
you will have your wish come true. 

It is really hard! We all tried it, and only Sister Manalu could do it.

Some guys shooting a movie on top of a part of 'Kraton',
the remnants of the old Javanese Kingdom.