MANADO MAY 2019
Very well prepared, we set off to fly to Manado. As usual, traffic was horrendously busy. Even the toll road to Sukarno Hatta Int. Airport was packed. We missed the original flight due to some "self inflicted" delays catching the originally booked flight. Late night Friday 24 May we arrived in Manado. Br. Mongan ( one of the many Mongan family members in Indonesia) gave us a ride to our hotel. We made use of the opportunity to discuss the new to be shown, "Temple Centered Family History" slide presentation planned for Sunday 26 May. The next morning we were picked up by Br. Mongan's daughter Sofianty, her husband Yopi Darea & their young daughter. We went on a tour around. Manado. Ended up at Bro. & Sr. Mongan's home. Their home is a very beautiful place somewhere outside Manado. The lunch was delicious. The conversations centered around all kind of Church related topics. Br. Mongan was absent. Did not feel well at all. Sunday right after the "block" we gathered with around 40 some members & Leaders in the partly finished Chapel. All the equipment worked 1st try this time. It helped to get off to a great start. You could feel the Spirit was present abundantly. Not a child cried. This became one of the best presentations because of the attention & participation of the audience. We were so grateful we came to Manado. The most "Isolated" Branch in Indonesia. They do not belong to a Stake or District. Thus, are, like Medan part of the Indonesian Mission. Manado has no Stake or District Conferences to be instructed, motivated and inspired. They completely depend on visits by Leaders & Authorities. Perhaps the reason they were so happy we came. The recently called Branch President Ismail is a spiritual giant. Young, returned Missionary & well raised in The Church. The Family History Consultant Sister Lani is a "gem". She and Sister Schmid have a very close & special relationship of love & trust. Next day, Monday our plane was scheduled to leave late afternoon. We were picked up again by Bro. Yopi Darea , Brother & Sister Mongan. Including Yopi & Sofianty's lively & energetic daughter Elizabeth. They took us on yet another tour. Visited the "Hot Springs". Bathed our feet in sulfur laden hot water. Including a variety of other interesting spots. They surprised us with lunch at one of the most popular eateries with a special menu. The only menu. table filled with "Rijst Tafel" like dishes. Including small snails inside the shells. Bro. Mongan taught me how to suck them out.
Returning after this very special Family History visit to Manado was a tough as it can get. When Bro. & Sr. Mongan decided ( kinda offer we could not refuse anyway.) to give us a ride to the airport, the mixed emotions were at the center of the lively conversation with a very quiet Br. Mongan in the far back seat he shared with our 1 small suit case. When we opened the back door we faced a smiling Br. Mongan. After the luggage was removed, both of us stared in silence at one another for a moment. I came up with some spontaneous "off the cuff" words that popped up: "Dear Brother Mongan, if we do not see each other here on earth anymore, we will certainly catch up ( I pointed to the sky)…… up there." He smiled. Sister Mongan laughed. With tears in my eyes I shook hands with & Sister Schmid hugged Sister Mongan. I hugged Brother Yopi, son in law & driver. We were early & had to wait for securing boarding passes. Once we got them, they were not the most desirable seats since Sister Schmid who desires to sit at left side aisle seat. In the hope that nobody would bump her off that seat, she took it, just in case she would be lucky. Finally after just about every one had boarded, a gentleman took the right side aisle seat. I noticed him before he sat down because he, in my estimation, tried to fit a light blue, humongous, carry on case in the carry on compartment. After some serious pushing & shoving it finally fit. He took the right side aisle seat. I sat in my designated left window seat watching the whole show going on. Sister Schmid still in the left aisle seat. the middle seat still empty. Low & behold when all seemed to be OK a late arrival came & showed her boarding pass to a flight attendant. Her seat was the right aisle seat. The gentleman who was informed by Sister Schmid why she sat in the left side isle seat, stood up & generously left Sister Schmid & without any qualms took the empty middle seat, thus offering Sr. Schmid the comfort she needed for her right knee. He was "sandwiched" between us. My mind could only come up with one answer to all this: "No coincidence?" again. Sure enough. After a while I introduced myself to him. We smiled cordially to each other. I introduced Sister Schmid he had met already without introduction. When the meals were distributed I noticed the man offering a silent prayer before starting to eat. My thought: "OK he is a member of one of the numerous Christian Churches we noticed on our Manado Bro. & Sr. Mongan offered tours on Saturday & Monday. Monday because we could only get a Garuda flight back to Jakarta late afternoon.Then he asked me in fluent English why I visited Manado. That is all I needed to get excited since I did not have to initiate a conversation. He answered my initial questions about his identity & why he was flying to Jakarta. I answered his question. Surprisingly he followed immediately with a series of additional questions. I was allowed to introduce him to the whole spectrum of Church related information. Starting with showing my "tag" explaining we were Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We discussed the whole spectrum of how & when & by who The Church was Restored By the Savior & that it was not just a Reformed Church. The Book of Mormon was discussed in relationship with the Bible. He also asked if we had a Church in Manado. I gave him the address of the meeting house I had printed on one of the many "tags" I use for cab drivers etc.. Gave him one of our church "Business Cards. Including one of my ATO Business Cards with my website & 3skatter.pe@gmail on it. .I showed and explained him the 4-Generations "Worksheet" & he asked and received several copies which he accepted. He looked at the back side, noticed the imprint of our "business card" and asked if I would not mind him following up with me. I also showed him the
mormon.org &
lds.or.id mentioning of both websites on that business card imprint. After some one hour discussion with Sister Schmid adding some pertinent information about The Church. We all decided to just let it all sink in. When the plane landed in Jakarta, I shook hands, wished him a safe & successful business stay in Jakarta. He replied: "You will hear back from me. I have your 'whatsapp' number.
THE VISIT TO MANADO & THE TIMING WAS YET ANOTHER SIGN THAT NOTHING ABOUT OUR MISSION HAS BEEN "COINCIDENTAL". THE LORD HAS PLANNED ALL OF IT FOR US FROM THE MOMENT WE WERE BORN IN INDONESIA. INCLUDING THE THREE TOUGH YEARS EARLY IN OUR LIVES DURING WORLD WAR II. THE FACT THAT WE EVEN SURVIVED THAT ORDEAL MADE US STRONGER. WE HAVE NEEDED EVERY BIT OF IT IN OUR MISSION. THE TENDER MERCY, THAT THE LORD ALLOWED US TO RETURN TO OUR COUNTRY OF BIRTH. A COUNTRY OF ENORMOUS CONTRASTS OF WEALTH & POVERTY. DECLARED RECENTLY BY OUR MISSION PRESIDENT; "INDONESIA IS A COUNTRY OF MIRACLES." A COUNTRY POPULATED WITH THE MOST HUMAN HUMANS. A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AS PHOTOS SHOW. YET AT THE SAME TIME SURROUNDED BY SOME 1700 LIVE VOLCANOES. IN JUST A BIT MORE THAN ONE WEEK WE WILL RETURN TO OUR OTHER HOME, ARIZONA, USA. WE ARE DAILY CONTEMPLATING: "HOW SOON WILL WE RETURN TO OUR LIFESTYLES OF LUXURY ? HOWS SOON WILL WE TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED AGAIN ?
Elder & Sister Schmid
Manado, Sulawesi scenery.
"Panen cengkeh"/Harvesting cloves. Granddaughter of Bro. & Sr. Mongan
Elder Schmid giving the PowerPoint Family History slide presentation.
Snap shots with Manado Branch members after the Temple Centered Family History Presentation.
Enjoying our feet baths in the sulfuric laden super naturally heated ( real hot) water.
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| Socks off to dunk feet into hot springs sulfur laden hot water bath. |
Touring Manado country sides with our hosts Brother & and Sister Mongan.
