We have been busy....

Hello All,

After a long quiet time we finally have an update to share. Why quiet you might say? In our opinion for good reasons. Read on folks! More than 6 months of "limited" Family History mobility & paying attention to Surabaya Cabang2 only, has reached a successful stage.  We achieved what we set out to do: A Program that works & appeals to Indonesians. Include and add a well organized & attractive decorated Family History Room. "Everybody happy". Both Sister Schmid & I are ecstatic. We were very fortunate to be able to spend some 6 months at one place. Re-organize the Surabaya Family History Room & Program during that time. In the very beginning a period of some time of "trial & error".

Mission President Rowley added "Proselyting" to our labors & responsibilities even before we were "transferred" to Surabaya Timur (means East) only. No Coincidence folks. It was an Inspired move on his part. Proselyting, even we were not trained to do that, offered us the opportunity to MILT ( Meet, Introduce, Listen & Talk ) to the Indonesian people & at the same time transfer a Family History Room into a "Comfort Zone." While at it, we introduced the 4-Generations Program to each & everyone we talked to, including people in places we visited, members of the Cabang2 Branch and non-members alike. With the learned & received information and responses we were able to create a way to successfully Introduce the Family History to member & non-member Indonesians. The very people we serve in this awesome country. In the process take Family History here to the next level of activity & beyond.

The FamilyTree & FamilySearch Programs are a fabulous way to input Family History "Online" and eventually prepare names of people and Families to be Temple Ready. It proves, in our humble opinion however, to be a simple but, very Methodical & Regimented way of processing names, dates & numbers. It did not appear to appeal to the Indonesian people in that form. It missed the "Human Factor Indonesian Way". The option of adding Photos & Stories was not clear to them. They are accustomed to and deserve clarification that appeals. Much information is "handed down" by word of mouth, not written. Many only have one name. Being shy and humble is part of many Indonesians. Apart from their language, Indonesians communicate & among others, mingle, socialize in their own unique ways. We worked hard to add an "Indonesian Face" to the Family History Online Program without changing anything of the Program. Which is not possible anyway. 

How? 

First of all: We had the English language translated on Charts, Forms and "Work-sheets" into Bahasa Indonesia. We organized, as in, make " People Friendly", sign up forms, record forms. Thus forgetting IDs & Passwords were eliminated. The Charts & Legends printed in a variety of attractive colors and now decorating the walls of the Family History Room. Now people love to congregate and work in this comfortable "climate." It is an invitation to participate, follow up, follow through and show up.

Then, Eureka,  we were able to add the "Silver Bullet" that has worked so well in my Teaching Tennis Professional's life for over 50 years: "Present Trophies" to those students who would otherwise never receive ( in my words) "External Recognition", since the chances of them winning any competition trophy was virtually Impossible.

In Family History one does not Compete, one Connects. A different standard of competing with oneself not opponents.

Family History Trophy? Are you kidding ? 

Yes folks, a Family History Trophy. Sister Schmid & I enthusiastically, fully confidently introduced the: "4-Generations Certificate of Completion." (our word ) Branch Leaders & members eagerly became involved. The Branch President OK'd the Program and many thus far have received a framed, showing their 4-Generations, "Trophy" after completing 4-Generations Online. The framed Certificates are now presented during the beginning of Sacrament meetings. Proudly displayed on walls in homes.

Our responsibilities are to set things in motion. Not to manage & maintain. Members have to do that themselves. Ward/Branch family History Consultants are given Family History Consultant callings.

After all was achieved, we felt happy, contend. Exhilaration included. Hard work paid off. However, at the same time, in a way, we now felt "Held Hostage" in Surabaya. We are called to be, we realized full well, the Family History Representatives for ALL Indonesia. Not wasting time to elaborate on that feeling. We needed to move to new territories, new "horizons" if you will. We both decided to add and focus on other opportunities of  Missionary activities to prevent "down time" and get discouraged. We asked and were granted to visit members of Cabang2 who, for a variety of reasons, do not regularly attend Church activities. Mostly not showing up on Sundays. Since we have transportation available, we started visiting members who live far away & have limited means of transportation themselves. Before getting into conversations & discussions of other Church topics, we started introducing the 4-Generations Online Program. 

We visit them & most of the time talk, what else, Family History. Include motivating & Inspiring them to try all they can to attend Church. We are now also allowed to offer them the Sacrament in their homes.

*** Interim Mission President Subandriyo interviewed us recently in the newly decorated Family History Room. We explained and showed him how we have developed ways how to make things work more successfully and customized to the people in Indonesia. He listened, asked questions. We answered as best as we could. Realizing we are not perfect. He jumped on it, took pictures of the "4-Generations framed Certificate of Completion" and told us: "From now on I want you two to visit ALL 22 + Meeting Houses in Indonesia's Wards & Branches. Present the Family History Programs in the way you explained.  Introduce, Implement, Teach & Coach the Family History input Online customized to appeal the people of Indonesia.

Our Family History Supervisor & Contact for Asia, Bro. Peter Bushi in India, concurred and he allows us to prepare, plan & do visits. Thus far, we have visited Bandung & Surakarta/Solo. Visits to Semarang & Medan are planned ( Medan is located way up in North Sumatra). Manado & Bali are in the preparation stages. 

We have an about 1 1/2 hour Presentation organized. We invite all  Leaders of all the Departments of each Ward/Branch including the young Fulltime Missionaries to attend. First an Introduction and spoken part. Then a Power-Point slide Presentation. Sister Schmid works the "nuts & bolts" of FamilyTree & FamilySearch. How to prepare names to end up being Temple Ready. Implement group and individual "one on One" teaching. Inspiring members to invite others to get involved.  We then move to a "Question & Answer" time. I follow with an invitation to all attendants to get involved. We leave each visited ward/Branch with an "Information Package",containing colored large Charts & differently designed sample Certificates. The idea is to decorate the walls. Change the Family History Rooms into a much needed & required "COMFORT ZONE" To Indonesians. It is ALL about them, the Indonesian people. The suggestion is made to re-design the Certificates in a way they will attract & appeal to specifically the members AND Non-Members in their city, town & area. The about 2 hours ends with an Invitation to the participants:

"Join the Conversation on Family History."

Elder & Sister Schmid