Happy New Year!!!

This past week has been another eventful week for us. We're still enjoying a steep learning curve in our Mission.

Early in the week we made an appointment for Friday 22 December with the US Consulate in Surabaya to have a document Notarized. On Wednesday, the 20th we received a phone call to change the appointment to Thursday 21 Dec at 1.15 pm. We took off early in order not to miss the time. At one point, we made a "pit stop" to get us back on track. Finally, we arrived at the high walled facility way out of town but still in Surabaya. We were greeted by one armed uniformed guard at a small area. A rigorous & methodical checkup followed. Identification was checked. Our names appeared on a list. After leaving small water bottles on a table we were allowed to enter through a heavy door with a bullet proof window. Inside that area we received another thorough check up. Including passing through metal detectors. My shoulder bag & Sr. Schmid's purse was hand checked with another metal detector by one of the 4 Officers. Finally, we were OK'd. The officer signaled another one at the other side of yet another heavy bullet proof door. Once passed, we looked at more officers keeping a close eye on us. We were cut off from the outside world & had entered inside of the compound. In the middle, a high building. I guess, with a quick look, the inside of the high walled compound must be covering an area of a few acres at least, it appeared. 

The whole area was well manicured landscaped. Through metal fencing on our side appeared other buildings. We walked in the direction (given by yet another armed guard ) of the office building. Another door was opened electronically. We arrived at the waiting room.

We noticed one other family of parents with 3 young sons. We said hello & took a seat. The mother, a native Indonesian was summoned to, I guess, another bullet proof window. A conversation ensued. At one point the lady turned around & quite disappointed uttered a few words to her husband. She then joined him sitting next to him. It became clear that she did not get the answer she had hoped for. Then Sr. Schmid was summoned to the same window. I got up and explained why we were here. The consulate employee informed me that Sr. Schmid was the person to be dealt with. I sat down, introduced myself to both parents. They informed me that the mother was not allowed back into the USA since her "green card" had expired. Her desire was to have it promptly renewed here so the whole family could be home just before Christmas. She now was forced to stay here all alone. Then Sr. Schmid joined the conversation. She had to wait for the document to be notarized. 

*** Surprisingly, after we listened to them the lady asked us what we were here for and why we were in Surabaya. Surprised but ready to seize the moment, we explained we were on a Church mission here. Instead of showing their utter disappointment about being forced to be split up for who knows how long they both listened intently to our introduction of the Family History 4 Generations Program. We handed them our business card. Explained how they would be able to go online to mormon.org. We handed them a 4 Generations pamphlet & explained how the filling out should be done.

Then I surprised them. I informed them that we had a similar problem with trying to get a "green card" for our daughter. Including the enormous difficulty to realize our righteous desire. Same Symptom. About the same cause: procedure prevented a timely Solution. The sheer confidence as persons we showed during our introduction of the Church, their questions & subsequent presentation of the Family History Program appeared to create some comfort with the two parents. I informed them that our Solution came when a member of our ward got notice of our dire situation.

That member told me he was a retired employee at the office of the Federal Attorney General. He invited me to his apartment. He then took my information and simply said: "I will see what I can do.". Not long after my daughter received as the last member of my family, the coveted "green card.".

I suggested that they should find out if they could create a similar situation by knowing a high ranked person with the Federal Government who could make a few calls on their behalf. They felt very encouraged and left the waiting room. Somewhat later Sr. Schmid was summoned back to the window and received the notarized doc. 

Here is the "kicker": That member who helped us had just arrived in our ward. Several weeks after he offered his assistance, he and his wife moved back to where they came from. 

Here's the lesson we learned last Thursday.

Why was our original appointment changed? Our two families were the only ones being in that waiting room on Thursday 21 Dec. '17. That allowed us a very private & personal conversation without interruption. Even though I can imagine that every word of it was recorded. We experienced similar "green card" issues. The mother of this family is faced with a potentially long separation from her family in a faraway country, no less. They felt encouraged by our suggestion and the confidence we showed overall. Including that it will work out & will result in a happy ending soon. The person who helped our daughter moved in, helped us. He moved out as soon as our "green card" issue was resolved. It is clear to us that The Lord was involved in us meeting this family last Thursday at the place & time. The lesson The Lord is clearly teaching us is that He has prepared and will put us in touch with specific people who are ready to receive The Gospel at most unexpected moments & times. We are reminded to be ready and in tune with The Spirit. That way we will not miss the opportunities coming our way during our Mission here. He. The Lord, also makes it perfectly clear to perform in such a way listening to His promptings that we are ready to welcome the individuals at any time. Expected or not. To prevent, deal with and resolve any and all distractions the "miserable one" will put in our way. 

The moral of the story is that meeting this family at this place at this day & time a "Coincidence?". Please think again.

 Elder & Sister Schmid.

Christmas lunch at Sr.& Br.Sunglao. Fabulous food & Great company.

Mom at work at the Family History Center...

Sister. Jatmiko

Sunday 24 Dec. '17. Visit by Sister. Jatmiko Of the Jakarta Indonesia Mission Family History Department.

Surabaya, "Royal Shopping Plaza" Food Court with "Makanan warung".

Hypermart cash registers

Surabaya, Royal Shopping Plaza.

Surabaya Royal Shopping Plaza.

Was impossible to get this kids attention. Completely absorbed by this "gadget". Even though he was in the middle of an overcrowded food area & with a terrible ear deafening "music".

Sister Schmid wanted "Euro" food for a change. I instantly went to work with fresh Indonesian ingredients.