Contrast in feasting on Indonesian food in the most luxurious 

Jakarta restaurant & at a " Warung Jalan" (street booth....see pictures below). 

Both locations very delicious! Including quite a difference in price.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE FIRST  FIFTEEN OR SO MONTHS IN OUR MISSION & PLANNED & THE HOPED FOR ACTIVITIES AND MOMENTUM FOR  SERVING THE FINAL SEVEN REMAINING MONTHS OF OUR MISSION IN INDONESIA

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Part One:

From the moment we arrived in Surabaya some fifteen months ago it was "All Hands on Deck" & Action from day one. We were completely and pleasantly surprised & sometimes overwhelmed by the always friendly, happy & humble Church members. Including the Indonesian people in general. We learned instantly that they have an attitude of spontaneously sharing everything positive. Do not want to bother anyone with anything negative. That includes their immediate Families. Indonesians even share when they have nothing of worldly possessions to share. They have nothing. That includes that not one of them envied the luxuries we are accustomed to and they do not have or will ever possess or enjoy. Simple luxuries of closets with clothing, multiple shirts & dresses, AC, stoves, cars & all other forms of transportation. Including money in the bank to go on vacation. The list is endless. All of those we enjoy and often take for granted. Including, in many cases, being able to pay for proper education. You say What?   Nothing to share & still share?   How is that possible?   How can?: In every instance thus far, we experienced: "Indonesians always share a smile, a happy face & always politely welcome you with open arms" Include Respect. Taught & practiced by even young babes. Do not be surprised when a young child comes up to you, shakes your hand & then finishes the greeting by placing that hand on their heart fore a moment. YES & Smiling.   

Many times we have felt terrible & still do that we have ever complained about anything in our lives. It IS a lesson well taught by the people in Indonesia we came to serve and teach. They have got it !  We both perceive this will be the way we perceive we will deal with one another in the eternities.

The Mission President added a responsibility of Proselyting. We were called & trained to be working as Family History Senior Couple Missionary Representatives for all of Indonesia. No Proselyting training. None. Including no language training at all. We attempted to get some. Electronic language training. The attempts & connections failed. Without hesitation and without realizing it in the beginning, it became clear transfer to Surabaya and Proselyting have been an Inspired assignment. Period. Including that some very important Schmid Family members are born in Surabaya. We put that information to the Mission President over the phone. He only knew we are both born In Indonesia. Instant complete silence the result. It obviously created emotional moments on both sides. The Mission President did not know the Surabaya "connection." Neither could he have known the latter. Shortly after he visited Surabaya for Zone Conference, We were put on the spot in front while in the to capacity filled chapel. "Elder & Sister Schmid, you do not mind to talk to everybody, do you?" Instant spontaneous & unprepared answer: "No President we do not !" It instantly provided us with additional motivation & energy. Talk to everyone. Including limited to speaking "Hanya Sedikit"  (very little) Indonesian. The increased motivation to just talk to everyone worked. Including the many times requests for photos. In return Sister Schmid gave a thorough explanation on the 4-Generations Online Family History Program. Printed 4-Generations pamphlets were handed out. On the back a copy of our contact information. Worked ! What worked too? The introduction of the framed 4-Generation Certificate presented to those who completed 4 Generations of their family Online.

Part Two:

While in Surabaya we were privileged to receive the customary Personal Interviews. We asked the then Interim Mission President to be interviewed in the refurbished Family History room. Showed the improved facility & the 4-Generations Presentation we had prepared for Indonesia. Immediately after he did not hesitate for a second: "I want you to make arrangements to travel & visit every meeting house in the country, improve the rooms where necessary & give them the 4-Generations Family History Presentation."  We embarked on an intense travel plan spread out over several months. Visited, among others; Bandung, Semarang, Surakarta (Solo), Menado, Yokyakarta, Bali & Jakarta (Java) & Medan (Sumatra). In Solo our simple attempt to present a 4-Generations Power Point presentation was set in motion with the help of another Senior Missionary Couple. Eureka ! Everybody Happy. Soon after we were able to improve on that initial 6 slide presentation. Increased it to a comprehensive 46 slides Presentation. Some transfers of colorful "Power Message Picture slides" with  the help of computer savvy Elders at the offices of the "Senopati" Mission Home. The responses at every Presentation after Solo, were absolutely phenomenal. Including presenting the attendants with "hand outs", colorful charts & more. Translated by "Wonder Sister" in Surabaya Cabang Dua. She maintains some 6 callings & has the skills to light fire under every one she needs to participate. Specialized in motivating the Youth. Everybody responded with excitement to the Presentations. Often creating immediately after the presentation, Personal Sessions. Sister Schmid, with the help of the local Family History Consultants were able to getting many members open a FamilyTree personal account. For those already enjoying a Free "FamilyTree" Online account,  were able to get Temple ready names processed. When IDs & Passwords were forgotten, all the available "plugs (to restore them) were pulled."  Including phone calls to SLC. Even though the calls to SLC were received in the middle of the night, always a happy real person voice skillfully  coaching us to restoration of the accounts. Incredible !  

Part 3.

After a surprising transfer from Surabaya to Jakarta we realized quickly that the Momentum we initiated & created after we arrived in Surabaya some 15 months ago, would not be continued "as is."  We have arrived at a TRANSITION time. Including getting, sometimes reluctantly used to Interesting changes: From now on our activities, initiatives an actions are not anymore only based on a  "Person to Person" Format.  "Y&M", You and Me. We have entered the for us challenging way of life of mostly a minimized to Skype, seeing one another face to face & the so comfortable for us, body language, to much increased electronics impersonal ways. Many knowing us also know our limited computer & electronic skills. The again: "The Opportunity Lies In The Challenge". We know that one going back to early childhood. We both realize that most likely from now on, we have to deal with: "THE EMOTIONLESS, ABSOLUTELY FACELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION & CONVERSATION." Including gone are the conversations with our Personal Assistant/Driver. We miss this incredibly patient and gentle personality. Including his knowledge of where to go & how to get there. Since he is a member of The Church,  that included his counsel & often participation. As well as sometimes saving us from embarrassment. It included him participating in  blessing & serving The Sacrament to those we visited & were not able ( for a variety of reasons) to attend Church regularly or not at all. His assistance was priceless due to our lack of speaking the Indonesian language fluently.

Here in Jakarta we had the luxury for a short time attending the English speaking Ward of mostly American Embassy personnel & their Families.  Now we are attending the Jakarta Stake First Ward. An Indonesian speaking Ward. However, many speak adequate English. To the delight of Sister Schmid, some even Indo-Dutch. We are also in the process of reviving our Ministering Visiting those members who do not attend Church regularly, sometimes or not at all. That list is being discussed by the Bishopric and processed. We will receive it hopefully in the not too distant future. It includes organizing transportation arrangements by our third Mission President who definitely does not need anything added to his already loaded busy schedule. He graciously offered his assistance with the above, including arranging of options for the necessary transportation.

These past weeks we have visited and continue to visit, meeting houses around Jakarta. The town of Bekasi being the first. The reception was exceptionally heart warming. We are very encouraged & look forward to future visits to a variety of meeting houses & getting introduced & to know more members. Including talking to everybody we get to talk to. Indonesians are very fond of & interested in Families. Including ancestors many have no way of knowing at this time. Miracles & Tender Mercies happen in Family History here too. We know ! We often feel that the Jakarta Stake is so well organized & run, they do not need us. The family History Consultants are incredibly well skilled. Including impeccable & enthusiastic work ethics that keep us humble. That  in tandem with awe. We have plans ready to make repeat visits to places  around here. Very soon we will travel by rail to Bogor. As soon as the new budget is available we will travel to places like Yokyakarta, Semarang, Bandung & Surakarta again. The far away places like Manado (Sulawesi) & Medan( Sumatra) will most likely have to continue  with SIster Schmid's regularly contacting them by "Electronic means." Just making sure that from now on concentrated efforts will be attempted to get the maximum possible members receiving Temple Recommends and Temple ready names presented for work in The Lord's Temples.

The 4-Generation Certificates Program we initiated in Surabaya is revived in the Jakarta Stake 1st Ward. Results so far;  five framed Certificates in less than two weeks presented to members of the 1st ward. It took a while to find the right Toko for frames and the right (priced as well) Design, Copy & Printer. Persistence, a lot of walking, negotiating, convincing & talking were part of the success we achieved after some three to four weeks of daily continued efforts & searching. We are ready and anxious to revive the Momentum we were able to create & enjoyed in Surabaya. We look forward to an exciting final seven months of our Mission.   

Elder & Sister Schmid

Not just a couple, but Ten Missionaries attending the Jakarta Stake 1st Ward today 25 Nov. 2018. Partly due to Mission Home Missionaries' assigned Ward is the 1st Ward.

Br. Brian Holyday, on business, invited Missionaries to have dinner at the "Paulaner Brauhaus" in Jakarta tonight Thu. Nov. 29. Authentic German food. As you see at the pictures plenty as well. These Paulaner folks have been brewing beer since the 1630's in Munich, Germany.

The drink Mom had was an Apple Cider carbonated drink. Looked like she had a beer. In fact it was an Apple Cider carbonated drink. We had a great time with fabulous company.